SRC-TJG H.B. 917 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 917 By: Eiland (Janek) Natural Resources 4/29/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The 76th Texas Legislature gave the General Land Office authority to undertake coastal erosion studies and projects. These studies and projects are undertaken with qualified project partners, which are currently required to pay at least 15 percent of the shared project cost. "Qualified project partners" is defined in the Natural Resources Code to include local governmental agencies. H.B. 917 allows counties and municipalities to incur debt to participate as qualified project partners in the General Land Office's coastal erosion response program. 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 Section 421.002, Local Government Code, to authorize the commissioners court of a county or the municipal authority of a municipality to participate as a qualified project partner for an erosion response project undertaken by the General Land Office, as those terms are defined in Section 33.601, Natural Resources Code (Definitions), and under take or contribute to the funding of shoreline or beach renourishment projects on Texas bays or public beaches. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.