SRC-JJJ S.B. 1613 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1613
By: Lucio
Border Affairs - Special
4/13/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the County Arts Expansion Program of the Texas Commission on the
Arts expands opportunities for arts programs to all parts of the state and
ensures that arts programs are being supported in every Texas county.  The
program requires a one-to-one match and up to 50 percent of the match for
project assistance may be in-kind donations, which creates difficulty in
smaller border counties in matching the project funds.  S.B. 1613 would
require the Texas Commission on the Arts to use private gifts and donations
to promote the development of the arts in certain municipalities located
near an international border. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1613 requires the Texas Commission on the Arts to use
private gifts and donations to promote the development of the arts in
certain municipalities located near an international border. 

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 444B, Government Code, by adding Section
444.031, as follows: 

Sec. 444.031.  BORDER ARTS INITIATIVE.  Requires the Texas Commission on
the Arts (commission) to develop a program under which the commission will
use certain funds to provide various assistance to promote the development
of the arts in municipalities with a population of 50,000 or less that are
located wholly or partially within a county that is located on an
international border. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date: upon passage.