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.