H.B. 2343 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 2343
By: Kolkhorst
State Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 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. The purpose
of House Bill 2343 is to authorize TDCJ to transfer this specific tract of
land to the County. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant
any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS
House Bill 2343 authorizes TDCJ to transfer land to Walker County, Texas
(the County) by an appropriate instrument of transfer.  The instrument of
transfer must provide that the County may use the property only for a
purpose that benefits the public interest of the state, and that ownership
of the property will automatically revert to TDCJ if the County uses the
property for any other purpose. The instrument of transfer must also
describe the property to be transferred by metes and bounds. The bill
provides a specific description of the five acres of land which are
authorized to be transferred by TDCJ to the County not later than January
31, 2004.   

EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2003.