SRC-ARR S.B. 1746 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1746 76R3610 MI-DBy: Jackson Natural Resources 4/7/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law does not provide for a Texas Environmental Education Partnership Fund (TEEP fund) and a Texas Environmental Education trust fund (TEEP trust fund). The Texas Environmental Education Partnership (TEEP) is a coalition focused on building a framework for environmental education for Texas, recognizing the diversity of Texas citizens. S.B. 1746 would create the TEEP Fund and TEEP trust fund. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1746 creates the Texas Environmental Education Partnership Fund and the Texas Environmental Education Partnership trust fund. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Defines "board," "participating partner," "TEEP fund," and "TEEP trust fund." SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP FUND. Establishes the Texas Environmental Education Partnership Fund (TEEP) and requires it to operate as a public/private nonprofit education partnership. SECTION 3. PURPOSE. Sets forth the purpose of the TEEP. SECTION 4. DESIGNATION OF PARTICIPATING PARTNER. Requires the board of the TEEP fund (board) to designate one or more public/private partnership entities as a participating partner to develop and propose environmental education projects, activities, and programs to receive assistance from the TEEP fund. Requires a participating partner to represent a broad spectrum of public and private interests relating to environmental and educational concerns. SECTION 5. TEEP FUND BOARD. Sets forth the membership of the board. Sets forth certain requirements of the board. Authorizes the board to accept certain gifts for the purpose of this Act. Requires the board to deposit to the credit of the TEEP trust fund certain gifts accepted by the board under this subsection. SECTION 6. TEEP TRUST FUND. Establishes the TEEP trust fund outside the treasury to be held by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company and administered by the board of the TEEP fund for the benefit of certain groups. Authorizes money in the fund to be used for certain awards and reimbursements. Provides that the trust fund consists of donations, gifts, and grants made available to the TEEP fund for the purpose of this Act. SECTION 7. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. Requires the board to adopt and publish eligibility criteria to be considered in making a grant or award of money from the fund. Requires the criteria adopted by the board to include certain provisions. SECTION 8. APPOINTMENT OF BOARD. Requires the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives to appoint members to the board as provided by SECTION 5(a) of this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. Provides that the initial members of the board are appointed for terms expiring February 1, 2001. SECTION 9. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.