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.