1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to establishing the Texas Fund for Geography Education to
1-3 support geography education at public, private, or independent
1-4 institutions of higher education.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-7 Subchapter X to read as follows:
1-8 SUBCHAPTER X. TEXAS FUND FOR
1-9 GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION
1-10 Sec. 61.941. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to:
1-11 (1) create an endowment to support geographic
1-12 education programs in Texas;
1-13 (2) improve the quality of geography education in
1-14 Texas; and
1-15 (3) promote a better understanding of Texas by all of
1-16 its residents.
1-17 Sec. 61.942. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "fund" means
1-18 the Texas Fund for Geography Education.
1-19 Sec. 61.943. FUND; GRANTS. (a) The board may enter into an
1-20 agreement with the National Geographic Society of Washington, D.C.,
1-21 to operate an endowment fund for purposes of this subchapter to be
1-22 known as the Texas Fund for Geography Education.
1-23 (b) The agreement must include the following conditions:
1-24 (1) appropriated money may be deposited to the fund
2-1 only in an amount equal to matching funds deposited to the fund by
2-2 the National Geographic Society from other sources;
2-3 (2) the National Geographic Society shall provide to
2-4 the board an annual report describing the fund's investments,
2-5 earnings, operating procedures, and major programs; and
2-6 (3) if the board determines that the public purposes
2-7 described by Section 61.941 are not being accomplished, the fund
2-8 shall be dissolved and the fund balance shall be distributed as
2-9 follows:
2-10 (A) one-half to the general revenue fund; and
2-11 (B) the remainder to be returned to the donors
2-12 of any amount deposited to the fund for the preceding five years in
2-13 proportion to the amount of the donation, if the donor accepts the
2-14 return of the donation, and any remainder to the National
2-15 Geographic Society.
2-16 (c) The board may transfer to the National Geographic
2-17 Society for deposit to the fund any amount appropriated to the
2-18 board for that purpose.
2-19 (d) The National Geographic Society shall award grants from
2-20 the fund to institutions of higher education and private or
2-21 independent institutions of higher education as defined by Section
2-22 61.003(15) to promote the purposes of this subchapter.
2-23 Sec. 61.944. GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)
2-24 The board shall appoint an advisory committee consisting of seven
2-25 persons who have expertise and an interest in geography education
2-26 to assist the National Geographic Society in awarding grants from
2-27 the fund under this subchapter.
3-1 (b) The advisory committee on behalf of the National
3-2 Geographic Society shall solicit proposals from institutions of
3-3 higher education and private or independent institutions of higher
3-4 education as defined by Section 61.003(15) for use of proceeds from
3-5 the fund and shall recommend to the society those that best promote
3-6 the purposes of this subchapter.
3-7 (c) The advisory committee is subject to Chapter 2110,
3-8 Government Code.
3-9 Sec. 61.945. REPORTING. Not later than December 1 of each
3-10 even-numbered year the board shall report to the governor and the
3-11 legislature:
3-12 (1) the value of the fund and the membership of the
3-13 advisory committee as of September 1 of that year;
3-14 (2) a summary of each project supported by a grant
3-15 from the fund during the preceding state fiscal biennium; and
3-16 (3) other information the board considers appropriate.
3-17 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-18 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-19 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-20 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-21 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3590 was passed by the House on May
1, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3590 was passed by the Senate on May
23, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor