SRC-AMY H.B. 1749 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1749
78R5958 KEL-FBy: Hupp (Fraser)
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
5/10/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under Section 49 of Article III of the Texas Constitution, the Veterans'
Land Board of the State of Texas (VLB) is authorized to administer the
veterans' land program and the veterans' housing assistance program.  The
77th Legislature passed a constitutional amendment, which was approved by
the voters in November 2001, allowing excess assets in those programs also
to be used to plan and design, operate, maintain, enlarge, or improve
veterans cemeteries. The VLB also currently operates four state veterans
homes.  The Texas Constitution does not currently provide for the use of
assets in the veterans' land program or the veterans' housing assistance
program for the state veterans home program.  H.B. 1749 is the enacting
legislation for H.J.R. 68, which amends the Texas Constitution to
authorize VLB, if it determines that receipts of the veterans' land fund,
veterans' housing assistance fund, or veterans' housing assistance fund II
are not required for the payment of debt service on the general obligation
bonds benefitting those funds, to use such receipts to pay the debt
service on any revenue bonds issued by the VLB.  

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 164.009(a), Natural Resources Code, to delete
text referring to certain sections of the Texas Constitution and text
referring to bonds issued to provide funds to purchase and sell land or
make home mortgage loans to veterans.  Specifies that the general
obligation bonds are issued by the Veterans' Land Board (VLB) to augment
certain funds. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: The date on which the constitutional amendment
proposed by the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, authorizing VLB
to make certain payments on revenue bonds and to use assets in certain
funds to provide for veterans homes, takes effect.  Provides that this Act
has no effect if that amendment is not approved by the voters.