SRC-JEC S.B. 197 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 197 2001S0102/1By: Cain Administration 1/11/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 197 establishes a County Park Beautification and Improvement Program, and provides for its implementation, administration, and funding, for the purpose of encouraging counties to beautify and improve county parks. 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. SHORT TITLE. Requires this Act to be known and authorizes it to be cited as the County Park Beautification and Improvement Program Act. SECTION 2. PURPOSE; CREATION. Establishes legislative intent. Establishes the County Park Beautification and Improvement Program (program). SECTION 3. IMPLEMENTATION. Authorizes the commissioners court (court) of a county to elect by majority vote to participate in the program. Requires the court, on such election, to designate one person in the division of the county government responsible for the care and maintenance of the county parks as the coordinator for the program. Authorizes the coordinator to solicit advice and assistance from state and county agencies and private organizations in developing and implementing the program. SECTION 4. REPORT; ADOPTION. Requires the coordinator to report to the court the coordinator's findings and recommend an implementation strategy. Authorizes the court to reject or adopt the strategy. Requires the court, if it rejects the strategy, to specify to the coordinator the reasons for the rejection, and requires the coordinator to develop a new implementation strategy to present to the court within six months of the rejection. Authorizes the court, on adoption of an implementation strategy to fund the program as provided in SECTION 5 of this Act. SECTION 5. FUNDING. Authorizes the commissioners court of a county electing to participate in the program to solicit and accept bequests, donations, grants, and other money, goods, and services from federal, state, and private sources to finance and further the goals of the program. Prohibits the court from levying any tax or receiving any legislative appropriation to fund such participation. Establishes that the state is not liable for debts or other obligations incurred by a county in implementing or planning to implement the program under this Act. SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.Effective date: upon passage or the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.