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.