By:  West                                                         S.B. No. 1742


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing certain nature centers to charge admission 
fees.    
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 10, Local Government Code, is 
amended by adding Chapter 336 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 336.  NATURE CENTERS
	Sec. 336.001.  AUTHORITY OF CERTAIN NATURE CENTERS TO CHARGE 
ADMISSION FEE.  (a) In this section, "nature center" means a 
geologically or environmentally unique undeveloped property of at 
least 30-50 acres that has been assembled for the purpose of 
preserving this geology or habitat, that provides passive or 
low-impact recreational activities like hiking, that has limited 
development, and that offers educational programs.
	(b)  This section applies only in a county with a population 
of 1.8 million or more.
	(c)  The board of directors of a not-for-profit entity that 
maintains county and municipal park property as a nature center 
under a formal agreement may charge an admission fee for entrance 
onto or use of the county and municipal property.  Any fee must be 
approved each year by the county and the municipality.
	(d)  Fees collected under this section may be used only to 
provide educational programs conducted on, to maintain, or to 
construct improvements to the county and municipal property.
	(e)  Fees collected under this section shall be audited 
annually by an independent auditor.  All audit reports shall be 
submitted to the county and the municipality on completion.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all of 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, 2005.