HBA-KDB H.B. 2993 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2993
By: Gray
Land & Resource Management
3/28/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1994, Galveston County was preparing to build a juvenile detention
center in Texas City.  Instead, the county gave the land that was going to
be used for the juvenile detention center to the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for the purpose of establishing a Texas Department
of Corrections (TDC) hospital in Texas City.  However, much of the land
given to TDCJ remained unused and is considered surplus by TDCJ.  House
Bill 2993 requires TDCJ to transfer the unused land back to Galveston
County. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2993 amends law to require the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice (TDCJ), not later than January 31, 2002, to transfer certain real
property to Galveston County.  The bill provides that Galveston County must
use the property in a manner that primarily promotes a public purpose of
the state, and that ownership of the property automatically reverts to TDCJ
if Galveston County fails to use the property in such a manner.   The bill
sets forth the specifications of the real property to be transferred. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.