By:  Eiland                                                       H.B. No. 917



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of counties and municipalities to incur 
debt to participate in erosion response projects undertaken by the 
General Land Office.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 421.002, Local Government Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 421.002.  AUTHORIZED PROJECTS; DEBT.  (a)  The 
commissioners court of the county or the municipal authority of the 
municipality may:
		(1)  establish, construct, extend, maintain, or 
improve a seawall, breakwater, levee, floodway, or drainway; [and]
		(2)  improve, maintain, or beautify a boulevard erected 
in connection with the seawall, breakwater, levee, floodway, or 
drainway;
		(3)  participate as a qualified project partner for an 
erosion response project undertaken by the General Land Office, as 
those terms are defined in Section 33.601, Natural Resources Code; 
and
		(4)  undertake or contribute to the funding of 
shoreline or beach renourishment projects on Texas bays or public 
beaches.
	(b)  The commissioners court or municipal authority may 
incur debt for a purpose authorized under Subsection (a).
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.