SRC-JEC S.B. 1163 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1163 77R3337 MCK-DBy: Truan Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 3/27/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Veterans Administration cemeteries exist in San Antonio, El Paso, and Houston, and are filled nearly to capacity. As proposed, S.B. 1163 creates a Texas Veterans Cemetery System through the Veterans' Land Board, to require the establishment of new cemeteries throughout the state to the extent funds are available from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Veterans' Land Board in SECTION 1 (Section 161.075, Natural Resources Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 161C, Natural Resources Code, by adding Section 161.075, as follows: Sec. 161.075. TEXAS VETERANS CEMETERY SYSTEM. (a) Requires the Veterans' Land Board (board) to create the Texas Veterans Cemetery System to the extent that funds are available from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Requires the board to oversee all operations of the system. (c) Requires the board to select and dedicate cemetery property for the system in different locations spread geographically across the state. (d) Requires the board to submit to the Texas Historical Commission for its review and approval all plans, programs, and materials relating to the interpretation of historical features of the system. Authorizes the Texas Historical Commission to provide staff support for activities interpreting the historical features of the system. (e) Requires the General Land Office (land office), at the direction of the board, to spend money appropriated to or budgeted by the land office for the purposes of the system. Requires activities relating to the maintenance of system grounds and monuments to conform to guidelines for historic preservation submitted to the board by the Texas Historical Commission. (f) Authorizes funds appropriated to the land office to be transferred by interagency contract for the performance, at the direction of the board, of an activity related to the system. (g) Authorizes the board to accept a gift, grant, or bequest of money, securities, services, or property to carry out a purpose of the board under this section, including funds raised or services provided by a volunteer or volunteer group to promote the work of the board. Authorizes the board to participate in the establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise funds for or provide services or other benefits to the board in connection with a purpose of the board under this section, and to contract with the nonprofit organization. (h) Requires the board to adopt rules regulating: eligibility for burial in a system cemetery; the size and number of grave plots in system cemeteries; and the erection of monuments in system cemeteries. (i) Authorizes the board to adopt other rules for the administration of the system. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.