By Garcia                                             H.B. No. 1289
         77R3111 ATP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of certain counties to provide or operate
 1-3     a zoo or an aquarium.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 10, Local Government Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Chapter 327 to read as follows:
 1-7                   CHAPTER 327.  COUNTY ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS
 1-8           Sec. 327.001.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to a
 1-9     county with a population of 1.8 million or more.
1-10           Sec. 327.002.  COUNTY ZOOS OR AQUARIUMS. (a)  A county may
1-11     acquire, equip, maintain, construct, or operate a zoo or aquarium
1-12     in the county for public use.
1-13           (b)  A county may contract with a municipality located in the
1-14     county to acquire, equip, maintain, construct, or operate a zoo or
1-15     aquarium in the county for public use.
1-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-17     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-18     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-19     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-20     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.