SRC-TNM S.B. 595 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 595 By: Ratliff Natural Resources 3-18-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Cooper Lake State Park is open in an effort to boost economic development in and around Delta County. As the U.S. House of Representatives closed session in the fall of 1996, Congress approved changing the lake's name to Jim Chapman Lake in honor of retiring Congressman Jim Chapman. Citizens of the towns of Cooper and Delta County are concerned that the name change will take away the city of Cooper's identity to the lake and will not represent the number of years the citizens have dedicated to keeping the lake. S.B. 595 prohibits the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife from renaming the state park and prohibits the Texas Department of Transportation from changing any sign that refers to Cooper Lake, Cooper Lake State Park, or erecting any new signs for Jim Chapman Lake. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 595 outlines provisions regarding Cooper Lake State Park. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 22, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Subchapter U, as follows: SUBCHAPTER U. COOPER LAKE STATE PARK Sec. 22.281. JURISDICTION. Provides that Cooper Lake State Park, located in Delta and Hopkins counties, is under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Wildlife Department. Sec. 22.282. SIGNS. Sets forth certain signs which the Texas Department of Transportation is prohibited from erecting. Sec. 22.283. PUBLICATIONS. Prohibits the state from referring to Cooper Lake State Park by a name other than Cooper Lake State Park in any state publication, including a map or brochure. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.