HBA-NIK H.B. 1691 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1691
By: Kuempel
State Recreational Resources
3/18/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (department) receives $1
million annually from sporting goods sales tax to use for the acquisition,
development, or improvement of department lands or facilities and for park
grants.  H.B. 1691 expands the currently authorized uses for the account to
include operational costs in association with parks, fisheries or wildlife
projects.  It also allows for providing matching money for federal projects
for parks, fisheries, or wildlife projects. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 11.043(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, by including
the operation of parks, fisheries, and wildlife projects that have been
individually approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission among the
authorized uses of money in the Texas Parks and Wildlife account. Includes
both the operational costs and meeting the requirements for providing
matching money for any federal grants for parks, fisheries, and wildlife
projects as among authorized approved projects. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.