SRC-AMY S.B. 7 78(1) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 7 By: Harris Administration 6/27/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 7 establishes a County Park Beautification and Improvement Program, and provides for its implementation, administration, and funding for the purpose of encouraging counties to beautify and improve county parks. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle B, Title 10, Local Government Code, by adding Chapter 328, as follows: Chapter 328. COUNTY PARK BEAUTIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Sec. 328.001. PURPOSE; CREATION. Provides that it is the intent of the legislation that each county dedicating land for use as county parks be encouraged to beautify and improve those parks using certain measures. Provides that the County Park Beautification and Improvement Program (program) is established. Sec. 328.002. IMPLEMENTATION. Authorizes the commissioners court of a county (court) to by majority vote elect to participate in the program. Requires the court of a county, on such election, to designate one person in the division of the county government responsible for the care and maintenance of the county parks as the coordinator for the program. Authorizes the coordinator to solicit advice and assistance from state and county agencies and private organizations in developing and implementing the program. Sec. 328.003. REPORT; ADOPTION. Requires the coordinator to report to the court the coordinator's findings and recommend an implementation strategy to the court. Authorizes the court to reject or adopt the implementation strategy. Requires the court, if the court rejects the strategy, to specify to the coordinator the reasons for such rejection, and requires the coordinator to develop a new implementation strategy to present to the court within six months of the rejection. Authorizes the court, on adoption of an implementation strategy, to fund the program as provided in Section 327.004. Sec. 328.004. FUNDING. Authorizes a court electing to participate in the program to solicit and accept certain types of money, goods, and services from certain sources to finance and further the goals of the program but prohibits the court from levying any tax or receiving any legislative appropriation to fund such participation. Provides that the state is not liable for debts or other obligations incurred by a county in implementing or planning to implement the program under this chapter. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.