1-1 By: Kuempel, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.B. No. 3189
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 1997;
1-3 May 7, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance;
1-4 May 16, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 11,
1-5 Nays 0; May 16, 1997, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the authority of the Parks and Wildlife Department to
1-9 issue revenue bonds.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 11.043, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-12 amended to read as follows:
1-13 Sec. 11.043. TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CAPITAL ACCOUNT. (a)
1-14 The Texas parks and wildlife capital account is a separate account
1-15 in the general revenue fund.
1-16 (b) The account consists of the amount of credits made to
1-17 the department under Section 151.801, Tax Code, after allocations
1-18 to the state parks account and the Texas recreation and parks
1-19 account, proceeds of revenue bonds issued under Section 13.0045, or
1-20 any other source authorized by law.
1-21 (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), money [Money] in
1-22 the account may be spent only for acquisition and development of
1-23 parks, fisheries, and wildlife projects that have been individually
1-24 approved by the commission. Projects that directly provide
1-25 hunting, fishing, or outdoor recreation opportunity to the public
1-26 shall be given preference for funding under this section. Approved
1-27 projects may include:
1-28 (1) acquiring land or facilities for use in any
1-29 department program;
1-30 (2) developing and improving any land or facility
1-31 owned or controlled by the department;
1-32 (3) servicing the debt on Texas park development bonds
1-33 issued under Article III, Section 49-e, of the Texas Constitution
1-34 or any other bonds issued [in the future] for parks, fisheries, or
1-35 wildlife projects; and
1-36 (4) local park grants in Chapter 24 of this code.
1-37 (d) The proceeds of bonds issued under Section 13.0045 and
1-38 deposited to the account may be spent to finance parks and wildlife
1-39 projects, including the repair, renovation, improvement, and
1-40 equipping of parks and wildlife facilities.
1-41 (e) The comptroller [treasurer] may invest money in the
1-42 account.
1-43 SECTION 2. Section 13.004(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-44 amended to read as follows:
1-45 (a) Except as provided by Section 13.0045, the [The]
1-46 operation, maintenance, and improvement of state parks shall be
1-47 financed from the general revenue fund, the state parks account,
1-48 other accounts that may be authorized by law, and donations,
1-49 grants, and gifts received by the department for these purposes.
1-50 SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Parks and Wildlife
1-51 Code, is amended by adding Section 13.0045 to read as follows:
1-52 Sec. 13.0045. REVENUE BONDS FOR PARKS AND WILDLIFE
1-53 FACILITIES. (a) The department, by resolution of the commission,
1-54 may request the Texas Public Finance Authority to issue revenue
1-55 bonds or other revenue obligations to finance the repair,
1-56 renovation, improvement, and equipping of parks and wildlife
1-57 facilities for an estimated project cost not to exceed $60 million.
1-58 (b) On receipt of the department's request, the authority
1-59 shall promptly issue the bonds or other obligations under and in
1-60 accordance with the Texas Public Finance Authority Act (Article
1-61 601d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
1-62 (c) The department shall deposit the proceeds of bonds
1-63 issued under this section to the credit of the Texas parks and
1-64 wildlife capital account and may use the proceeds only to finance
2-1 the repair, renovation, improvement, and equipping of parks and
2-2 wildlife facilities.
2-3 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-4 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
2-9 * * * * *