SRC-JXG H.B. 1223 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1223 76R5386 BDH-DBy: Seaman (Armbrister) State Affairs 5/12/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Recently, important artifacts have been discovered, which are significant to Texas history. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has been working with local communities to assist them in displaying artifacts in cities and counties in or near where such discoveries have been made. However, many communities do not have the resources to provide adequate facilities for the display of these artifacts. H.B. 1223 would require THC to administer a program to assist municipalities, counties, museums, and county historical commissions with developing and improving museum facilities that display historical artifacts significant to Texas or American history, that were discovered in Texas, and would create the Texas Historical Artifacts Program Fund. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1223 sets forth provisions regarding a historical artifact program under the Texas Historical Commission. 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 442, Government Code, by adding Section 442.0145, as follows: Sec. 442.0145. TEXAS HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS PROGRAM; FUND. (a) Requires the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to administer a program to assist municipalities, counties, museums, and county historical commissions with the development or improvement of museum facilities used to display historical artifacts discovered in Texas that are significant in Texas or American history. (b) Creates the Texas Historical Artifacts Program Fund (fund) as a separate account in the general revenue fund. Provides that the fund is composed of money appropriated to the fund, money deposited to the fund under Subsection (c), and interest received from investments of money in the fund that the comptroller shall allocate to the fund. Provides that Sections 403.095 and 404.071 do not apply to the fund or to interest received from investments of money in the fund. Authorizes money in the fund to be spent only as provided by THC under this section. (c) Authorizes THC to accept grants or other donations from any source, for deposit in the fund. (d) Requires THC to establish rules governing the use, administration, and distribution of the fund. Requires the rules to ensure that money in the fund is used only for the purposes prescribed by Subsection (a), including the expenses of administering the program. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.