Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1341 amends the Government Code to establish a historic courthouse preservation program to be administered by the Texas Historical Commission and supported by grants and loans from a new account in the general revenue fund. To be eligible, county courthouses must be at least 50 years old. Preference, however, is given to buildings that are likely to become historic structures and that were built before 1875, are still functioning as courthouses, and are the subject of a conservation easement held by the commission. Preference extends also to counties that provide at least 15 percent of a preservation project's costs. The act includes various factors to be considered in evaluating grant applications and sets other requirements, including development of a master preservation plan, use of recognized preservation standards, oversight by the commission, and potential audit of county expenditures by the state auditor. The commission may require a conservation easement and other appropriate covenants in favor of the state. The act requires the commission to appoint a Texas Courthouse Preservation Advisory Committee. A grant for any one project may not exceed $4 million, or two percent of biennial appropriations for the program, whichever is greater. Commission administrative expenses may not exceed one percent of biennial appropriations for the program. The General Appropriations Act appropriates $50 million to the commission for the courthouse initiative for the FY2000-FY2001 biennium.