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House Bill 1300 |
House Author: Guillen et al. |
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Effective: 5-28-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Eltife |
House Bill 1300 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), subject to approval by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, to select a for-profit entity as an official corporate partner. TPWD may contract with one or more such partners to raise funds for state site operations and maintenance or other priority projects or programs or to conduct joint promotional campaigns or other fund-raising efforts for those purposes. The bill authorizes an official corporate partner to accept gifts and grants on behalf of TPWD or provide such items to the department as a means to raise funds and limits the use of those funds to the purposes specified. The bill requires the commission to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions relating to for-profit partnerships and specifies that those provisions do not limit the department's authority to accept donations that are otherwise authorized.
House Bill 1300 authorizes TPWD to contract with any entity the department considers appropriate to sell state park passes in any of the entity's retail locations or to use the TPWD brand in exchange for licensing fees paid by the entity to the department. The bill requires the commission by rule to prohibit inappropriate commercial advertising in any sites under the department's jurisdiction to preserve the integrity of the sites and minimize distractions that may interfere with enjoyment of the sites by visitors.