Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SJR74 by Parker (Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be administered by the Parks and Wildlife Department.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined because appropriations, transfers, deposits, investment and interest earnings, gifts, grants, or donations to the credit of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund are unknown at this time.
The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $204,406.
The proposed amendment to Article III of the Texas Constitution would create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund (CPCF) as a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund would consist of appropriations; transfers or deposits; investment and interest earnings; and gifts, grants, and donations.
The amendment would specify that money in the fund would be administered, without further appropriation, by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and that the fund could only be used for the creation and improvement of state and local parks and for the conservation of land, water, and soil in the state. The amendment would permit the creation of separate accounts in the fund as necessary to administer the fund or its supported projects.
The proposed amendment would allow the Legislature to authorize TPWD to use the CPCF to support projects for public purposes through grants provided directly to public or private entities, as provided by general law. The amendment would also allow TPWD to transfer money from the CPCF to other programs and funds of the department. The proposed constitutional amendment would be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
Based on information provided by the TPWD and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the fiscal implications of the amendment cannot be determined because amounts of any appropriations, transfers, deposits, investment and interest earnings, gifts, grants, or donations that would be deposited to the credit of the CPCF are unknown.
This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department