By Allen H.B. No. 1735
77R6770 MI-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to authorizing certain nature centers in certain counties
1-3 to charge admission fees.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 10, Local Government Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Chapter 336 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 336. NATURE CENTERS
1-8 Sec. 336.001. AUTHORITY OF CERTAIN NATURE CENTERS TO CHARGE
1-9 ADMISSION FEE. (a) This section applies only in a county with a
1-10 population of 1.8 million or more.
1-11 (b) The board of directors of a not-for-profit entity that
1-12 maintains county and municipal park property abutting property that
1-13 is owned by the entity and operated as a nature center may charge
1-14 an admission fee for entrance onto or use of the county and
1-15 municipal property. Any fee must be approved each year by the
1-16 county and the municipality and may not exceed $3 a day for an
1-17 adult and $1 a day for a child younger than 13 years of age.
1-18 (c) Fees collected under this section may be used only to
1-19 provide educational programs conducted on, or to maintain or
1-20 construct improvements to, the county and municipal property.
1-21 (d) Fees collected under this section shall be audited
1-22 annually by an independent auditor. All audit reports shall be
1-23 submitted to the county and municipality on completion.
1-24 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-1 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-2 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-3 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-4 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.