SRC-MWN H.B. 335 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 335
By: West, George "Buddy" (Armbrister)
Criminal Justice
5/3/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

During its 60 years as the leading state law enforcement branch, the
Department of Public Safety (department) has served various functions,
including the protection of citizens from crime and the coordination of
efforts to avoid and minimize natural disasters. Through the support of
Texans and its dedicated employees, department has become known nationally
and internationally as a premier law enforcement agency. In an effort to
document and preserve the legacy of department, retired and active
department employees created the Texas Department of Public Safety
Historical Museum and Research Center (museum) in Austin, Texas in 1994.
H.B. 335 authorizes the Public Safety Commission to enter into a contract
with the museum to use department personnel and property to assist the
museum.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding Subchapter J, to
read as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER J. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
AND RESEARCH CENTER

 Sec. 411.301.  DEFINITION. Defines "museum."

Sec. 411.302. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Authorizes the Public Safety Commission
(commission) to perform certain procedures. 

Sec. 411.303. PERSONNEL. (a) Authorizes the director to appoint and assign
duties to department personnel to serve as paid support staff for the
museum. 

  (b) Authorizes the support staff to consist of certain persons.

  (c) Authorizes the department to spend funds to hire support staff.

Sec. 411.304. FUNDING. Provides that the Department of Public Safety
Historical Museum and Research Center account is created as a special
account outside the state treasury to be held at the Department of Public
Safety Credit Union and to be administered by the commission.  Authorizes
the money in the account to be used only to administer this subchapter. 

(b)  Provides that the account is composed of gifts, grants, and donations
collected by the department from any public or private source for the
purposes of this subchapter. 


SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.