H.B. 917 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 917 By: Eiland Natural Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1999, the 76th 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 government entities. The bill allows counties and municipalities to incur debt to participate as qualified project partners in the General Land Office's coastal erosion response program. The debt incurred would be used to pay a percentage of the shared cost of an erosion response project. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 917 amends the Local Government Code by adding a new subsection which authorizes coastal cities or counties to issue debt in order to raise funds to use as the local match requirement for an erosion response project under the General Land Office's coastal erosion program. The bill also authorizes a coastal city or county to issue debt to undertake a beach or bay restoration project on their own. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.