1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the authority of the Texas Historical Commission to

 1-3     accept donations and services from a volunteer or volunteer group.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 442.005(p), Government Code, is amended

 1-6     to read as follows:

 1-7           (p)  The commission may accept a gift, grant, devise, or

 1-8     bequest of money, securities, services, or property to carry out

 1-9     any purpose [the purposes] of this chapter, including funds raised

1-10     or services provided by a volunteer or volunteer group to promote

1-11     the work of the commission.  The commission may participate in the

1-12     establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization

1-13     whose purpose is to raise funds for or provide services or other

1-14     benefits to the commission.

1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 726 was passed by the House on April

         25, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 726 was passed by the Senate on May

         15, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor