By:  Fraser                                                       S.B. No. 1496


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the historic courthouse preservation program.                     
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 442.0082, Government Code, is amended by 
adding subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  The commission shall develop and implement a program to 
ensure that counties receiving funding for courthouse projects 
continue to maintain, repair and preserve their courthouses so as 
to protect the investment of state monies.  The commission shall 
provide periodic inspections, technical assistance and establish 
county maintenance reporting requirements.
	SECTION 2.  Section 442.0083(f), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(f)  Biennial appropriations to the commission for 
administering the historic courthouse preservation and maintenance 
programs during a state fiscal biennium, including providing 
oversight for historic courthouse projects, may not exceed [one] 
two and one half percent of the amount appropriated for 
implementing the historic courthouse preservation program during 
the state fiscal biennium.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.