NIK C.S.S.B. 287 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 287
By: Brown
State Recreational Resources
4-5-1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



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 improvements of department lands or facilities and for park
grants.  C.S.S.B. 287 expands the currently authorized uses for the account
to include operational and maintenance costs in association with parks,
fisheries, or wildlife projects.  It also allows funds to be spent for
providing matching money for federal projects, enhancing conservation of
historical, cultural, or natural resources, and supporting department law
enforcement efforts. 

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, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

Sec.11.043. New title: TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND CAPITAL
ACCOUNT.   

(a) Makes a conforming change.  

(c) Includes maintenance or operation of parks, fisheries, and wildlife
projects as activities for which money in the account is authorized to be
spent.  Includes initiating or participating in partnerships to enhance
conservation of historical, cultural, or natural resources; operational and
maintenance costs in association with parks, fisheries, wildlife projects,
or department law enforcement efforts in support of this code; and meeting
the requirements for providing matching money  for any federal grants for
parks, fisheries, or wildlife projects as approved projects. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.  

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B. 287 modifies the original bill in SECTION 1 by creating a new
title for Section 11.043 (Parks and Wildlife Code).  C.S.S.B. 287 includes
in Subsection (c) that the money in the conservation and capital account
may also be spent for maintenance of parks, fisheries, and wildlife
projects that have been individually approved by the Parks and Wildlife
Commission (commission). In new Subdivision (c)(5) C.S.S.B. 287 includes
initiating or participating in partnerships to enhance conservation of
historical, cultural, or natural resources as an approved project.
C.S.S.B. 287 also includes in Subdivision (c)(6), as redesignated from
Subdivision (c)(5), department law enforcement efforts as an approved
project.  Proposed Subdivision (c)(6) of the original is redesignated as
Subdivision (c)(7) in the substitute.