1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to authority of the comptroller to enter certain

 1-3     agreements with credit card issuers benefitting state parks.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 403.026 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 403.026.  CREDIT CARD AGREEMENT BENEFITTING STATE.  (a)

 1-8     The comptroller may enter an agreement with a credit card issuer

 1-9     under which:

1-10                 (1)  the issuer is required to pay to the comptroller

1-11     an amount of money based on the use of the credit card by the

1-12     holders of the credit card; and

1-13                 (2)  the issuer is permitted to represent to the public

1-14     that use of the credit card benefits state parks and to design

1-15     credit cards issued under the agreement to indicate this benefit.

1-16           (b)  The form of any representation of benefit to state parks

1-17     and the design of credit cards issued under the agreement must be

1-18     approved by the comptroller.

1-19           (c)  The comptroller shall deposit money received under this

1-20     section to the credit of the state parks account under Section

1-21     11.035, Parks and Wildlife Code.

1-22           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-3     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-4     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 16 was passed by the House on April

         3, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not

         voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 16 was passed by the Senate on May 8,

         1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor