1-1 By: Noriega (Senate Sponsor - Brown) H.B. No. 2719 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2001; 1-3 May 10, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural 1-4 Resources; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the use of obsolete bridges, tunnels, and causeways to 1-9 create artificial reefs. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 89, Parks and Wildlife Code, 1-12 is amended by adding Section 89.005 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 89.005. USE OF BRIDGES, TUNNELS, AND CAUSEWAYS. (a) 1-14 The Texas Department of Transportation shall coordinate with the 1-15 department and local governments to use obsolete bridges, tunnels, 1-16 and causeways to create artificial reefs under this chapter. 1-17 (b) The Texas Department of Transportation may transfer 1-18 obsolete bridges, tunnels, and causeways to the department to 1-19 create artificial reefs. 1-20 (c) The department may provide assistance, including money, 1-21 to a local government to fulfill the purposes of this section. 1-22 (d) Any money appropriated to the department for the 1-23 artificial reef program under this chapter may be used for the 1-24 purposes of this section. 1-25 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 1-26 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 1-27 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 1-28 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 1-29 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-30 * * * * *