SRC-LBB H.B. 2343 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2343
78R3698 QS-FBy: Kolkhorst (Ogden)
Criminal Justice
5/20/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) owns a specific
tract of land in Walker County, Texas (the county).  The county wishes to
use this land to build a museum which memorializes veterans.  In order to
do this, the land must be transferred from TDCJ to the county.  H.B. 2343
authorizes TDCJ to transfer this specific tract of land to Walker County. 

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.  (a)  Authorizes the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
(TDCJ) to donate and transfer to Walker County the real property described
by Subsection (e) of this section, not later than January 31, 2004. 

(b)  Authorizes Walker County to use the property transferred under this
Act only for a purpose that benefits the public interest of the state.
Provides that if Walker County uses the property for any purpose other
than a purpose that benefits the public interest of the state, ownership
of the property automatically reverts to TDCJ.  

(c)  Authorizes TDCJ to transfer the property by an appropriate instrument
of transfer. Requires the instrument of transfer to: 

  (1)  provide that:

(A)  Walker County may use the property only for a purpose that benefits
the public interest of the state; and 
(B)  ownership of the property will automatically revert to TDCJ if Walker
County uses the property for any purpose other than a purpose that
benefits the public interest of the state; and 

  (2)  describe the property to be transferred by metes and bounds.

(d)  Requires TDCJ to retain custody of the instrument of transfer after
the instrument of transfer is filed in the real property records of Walker
County. 

 (e)  Describes the real property referred to in this section.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.