76R11177 JRD-D                           
         By Isett                                              H.B. No. 3442
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3442:
         By Hunter                                         C.S.H.B. No. 3442
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a Texas Historical Commission program for the
 1-3     identification and preservation of abandoned cemeteries.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Section 442.017 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 442.017.  IDENTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION OF ABANDONED
 1-8     CEMETERIES.  (a)  The commission shall establish a program to
 1-9     identify and preserve abandoned cemeteries across the state.
1-10           (b)  The commission is encouraged to use volunteers to the
1-11     maximum extent possible to implement the program and to model the
1-12     program to the extent appropriate on the "Adopt-A-Beach" program
1-13     conducted by the General Land Office.
1-14           (c)  The commission may accept gifts, grants, and in-kind
1-15     donations from public and private entities for the implementation
1-16     of the program.  The legislature may appropriate money to the
1-17     commission to implement the program.
1-18           (d)  The commission may adopt rules reasonably necessary to
1-19     implement the program. The commission shall define the term
1-20     "abandoned cemetery" for purposes of this section after considering
1-21     relevant statutes and judicial decisions.
1-22           (e)  This section and an action taken by the commission under
1-23     this section do not affect the authority of another govenmental
1-24     entity to take an action in relation to an abandoned cemetery under
 2-1     other law.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.