SRC-BWC S.B. 803 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 803 77R5508 JAT-DBy: Haywood State Affairs 3/5/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas World War II Historical Monument Fund, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation, has been collecting funds to construct and maintain a monument to honor the 103rd division of the United States Army and its support units. The monument would be constructed at the Texas Department of Transportation Welcome Center on IH-35 just north of Gainesville, Texas, in Cooke County. This area was previously known as Camp Howze and is the location where the 103rd division trained before being deported for Europe during the 1940s. As proposed, S.B. 803 requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to permit the construction of a Camp Howze Historical Monument and authorizes the department to accept the monument as a gift from the private organization. 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 250, Transportation Code, by adding Section 250.002, as follows: Sec. 250.002. CAMP HOWZE HISTORICAL MONUMENT. Requires the Department of Transportation (department) to permit a private organization formed for the purpose to erect, at the Texas travel information center adjacent to Interstate 35 near Gainesville, a monument commemorating Camp Howze and the soldiers of the 84th, 86th, and 103rd divisions of the United States Army who served during World War II. Authorizes the department, on behalf of the state, to accept the monument as a gift and spend funds to maintain the monument. Authorizes the department to accept a grant or donation to assist in financing the maintenance of the monument. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.