By Flores                                              H.B. No. 310
         77R2073 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to creation of the Texas Veterans Cemetery System.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Natural Resources Code,
 1-5     is amended by adding Section 161.075 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec.  161.075. TEXAS VETERANS CEMETERY SYSTEM. (a)  To the
 1-7     extent that funds are available from the United States Department
 1-8     of Veterans Affairs, the board shall create the Texas Veterans
 1-9     Cemetery System.
1-10           (b)  The board shall oversee all operations of the system.
1-11           (c)  The board shall select and dedicate cemetery property
1-12     for the system in seven different locations spread geographically
1-13     across the state.
1-14           (d)  The board shall submit to the Texas Historical
1-15     Commission for its review and approval all plans, programs, and
1-16     materials relating to the interpretation of historical features of
1-17     the system. The Texas Historical Commission may provide staff
1-18     support for activities interpreting the historical features of the
1-19     system.
1-20           (e)  At the direction of the board, the land office shall
1-21     spend money appropriated to or budgeted by the land office for the
1-22     purposes of the system. Activities relating to the maintenance of
1-23     system grounds and monuments shall conform to guidelines for
1-24     historic preservation submitted to the board by the Texas
 2-1     Historical Commission.
 2-2           (f)  Funds appropriated to the land office may be transferred
 2-3     by interagency contract for the performance, at the direction of
 2-4     the board, of an activity related to the system.
 2-5           (g)  The board may accept a gift, grant, or bequest of money,
 2-6     securities, services, or property to carry out a purpose of the
 2-7     board under this section, including funds raised or services
 2-8     provided by a volunteer or volunteer group to promote the work of
 2-9     the board. The board may participate in the establishment and
2-10     operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is
2-11     to raise funds for or provide services or other benefits to the
2-12     board in connection with a purpose of the board under this section,
2-13     and the board may contract with the nonprofit organization.
2-14           (h)  The board shall adopt rules regulating:
2-15                 (1)  eligibility for burial in a system cemetery;
2-16                 (2)  the size and number of grave plots in system
2-17     cemeteries; and
2-18                 (3)  the erection of monuments in system cemeteries.
2-19           (i)  The board may adopt other rules for the administration
2-20     of the system.
2-21           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-22     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-23     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-24     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-25     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.