By Hunter                                        H.B. No. 365

      75R1776 DWS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to grants to fund motion picture facilities.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by

 1-5     adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

 1-6                   SUBCHAPTER K. MOTION PICTURE FACILITIES

 1-7           Sec. 481.163.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "motion

 1-8     picture facility" means a motion picture sound stage, studio, or

 1-9     other facility dedicated to the production of motion pictures.

1-10           Sec. 481.164.  GRANTS.  (a)  The department shall make

1-11     grants, from money appropriated for this purpose, to fund the

1-12     construction and operation of motion picture facilities in this

1-13     state.

1-14           (b)  The policy board shall adopt rules to carry out this

1-15     section.

1-16           Sec. 481.165.  ELIGIBILITY.   To be eligible for a grant

1-17     under this subchapter a person must apply to the department on a

1-18     form prescribed by the department and must demonstrate to the

1-19     department's satisfaction that:

1-20                 (1)  the person has ability and intent to construct and

1-21     operate a motion picture facility; and

1-22                 (2)  the person has the financial resources to provide

1-23     at least half of the amount required for initial construction of

1-24     the motion picture facility and has made a firm commitment to use

 2-1     those resources for that purpose.

 2-2           Sec. 481.166.  LIMIT ON NUMBER OF FACILITIES.  The department

 2-3     may make grants under this subchapter to fund not more than two

 2-4     motion picture facilities.

 2-5           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-6           SECTION 3.   The importance of this legislation and the

 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.