SRC-TJG H.B. 1764 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1764
78R5298 SGA-FBy: Smith, Wayne (Gallegos)
Natural Resources
5/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The existence of the San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board was reaffirmed
by the legislature in 1999.  The advisory board has rendered services far
beyond its official advisory function. Examples include the board
coordinating the annual San Jacinto Day ceremony at the state park
recently attended by over 15,000 people, and an annual academic symposium
on the Battle of San Jacinto. H.B. 1764 provides for revisions,
clarifications and reaffirmations of the current activities of the
advisory board to the statute. 

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 Sections 22.012, 22.013, and 22.014, Parks and Wildlife
Code, as follows: 

Sec. 22.012.  New heading: SAN JACINTO BATTLEGROUND HISTORICAL ADVISORY
BOARD.  (a) Provides that the San Jacinto Battleground Advisory Board
(advisory board) is composed of certain individuals. 

(b) Provides that the three members of the public are appointed by the
governor for staggered terms of six years each, with the term of one
member expiring September 1 of each odd-numbered year.  Requires the
members appointed by the governor to include individuals who are
knowledgeable about the history of this state and have demonstrated an
interest in the historical preservation of the battleground. 

(c) Authorizes one or more of the three public members of the advisory
board, rather than public, to be selected from the San Jacinto Chapter,
Daughters of the Republic of Texas. 

(d) Requires the advisory board to annually elect from its members a
presiding officer, a vice presiding officer, and a secretary. 

(e) Provides that each state senator or state representative whose
district includes the battleground is a nonvoting ex officio advisory
board member. 

(f) Provides that it is a ground for removal of a public member from the
advisory board if the member is absent for three regularly scheduled
advisory board meetings during a calender year without an excuse approved
by a majority of the advisory board. 

(g) Requires the governor, if a public member's position on the advisory
board becomes vacant, to appoint another public member to fill the
remaining term of the vacated position as soon as practicable. 

 Sec. 22.013.  New heading: MEETINGS; BYLAWS.  (a) Makes a conforming
change. 

(b) Requires the advisory board to take certain actions.

(c) Authorizes the bylaws to provide for additional nonvoting ex officio
members. 

(d) Requires the secretary of the advisory board, after approval by the
advisory board, to deliver the advisory board's bylaws, any changes made
to the bylaws, and the minutes of each meeting to the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Commission. Deletes existing language relating to requiring the
minutes to be delivered by the member of the advisory board who is an
employee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). 

(e) Requires TPWD and advisory board members to be given timely notice of
each board meeting. 

Sec. 22.014.  POWERS OF THE BOARD.  Authorizes the advisory board to take
certain actions.  Deletes existing text relating to authorizing the
advisory board to accept certain money and property. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.