SRC-PNG H.B. 2272 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2272
By: Ritter (Haywood)
Natural Resources
5/12/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) maintains
numerous advisory committees that provide guidance and input on different
issues under the jurisdiction of TPWD. These committees are authorized and
managed in different ways, as directed by statute.  This bill would
authorize the chairman of the Parks and Wildlife Commission (commission) to
appoint and manage the committees to advise the commission under its
jurisdiction, and repeal statutory requirements for specified committees
and boards. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2272 authorizes the chairman of the Parks and Wildlife
Commission (commission) to appoint and manage the committees to advise the
commission under its jurisdiction, and repeals statutory requirements for
specified committees and boards. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the chairman of the Parks and Wildlife
Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 11.0162, Parks and Wildlife Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 11B, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section
11.0162, as follows: 

Sec.  11.0162.  ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO COMMISSION.  Authorizes the chairman
of the Parks and Wildlife Commission to appoint committees to advise the
Parks and Wildlife Commission (commission) on issues under its
jurisdiction.  Authorizes the chairman to adopt rules that set the
membership, terms of service, qualifications, operating procedures, and
other standards to ensure the effectiveness of an advisory committee
appointed under this section.   

SECTION 2. Repealers:

Sections 22.002 (Fannin State Park Advisory Committee), 22.003 (Meetings),
22.004 (Powers of Advisory Commission), and 22.005 (Data), Parks and
Wildlife Code. 

Sections 22.012 (San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board), 22.013 (Meetings),
22.014 (Powers of the Board), and 22.015 (Data), Parks and Wildlife Code. 

Sections 22.262 (Battleship "Texas" Advisory Board), 22.263 (Meetings), and
22.264 (Functions), Parks and Wildlife Code. 

Section 28.003, Parks and Wildlife Code (Advisory Council).

Section 49.016, Parks and Wildlife Code (Advisory Board).

Section 89.021(d), Parks and Wildlife Code (State Artificial Reef Plan).

 SECTION 3. Amends Section 22.013, Parks and Wildlife Code, to require the
San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board (board) to prepare minutes for all
board meetings and deliver them to the commission.  Requires the board to
deliver the board's bylaws and any changes made to the bylaws to the
commission.  Requires any minutes or bylaws delivered to the commission to
be delivered by the member of the board who is an employee of the
department. 

SECTION 4. (a) Effective date: September 1, 1999.

(b) Provides that the expiration of the term of a member of an advisory
committee, commission, or board created under sections of the Parks and
Wildlife Code repealed by SECTION 2 of this Act, who is serving on August
31, 1999, expires September 1, 1999.  

(c) Provides that any bequest, gift, or grant of money accepted by the
Fannin State Park Advisory Commission sections of the Parks and Wildlife
Code repealed by this Act, that is held by the advisory commission on
August 31, 1999, be transferred to TPWD.  Requires TPWD to retain all data
collected and requires TPWD to use it to depict the story of Texas history
and independence at the battleground. 

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.