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.