BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1138
80R4101 YDB-F By: Leibowitz (Watson)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Section 31.065, Natural Resources Code, authorizes the commissioner of the General Land Office (commissioner) to accept gifts, devises, and bequests, but not grants. While grants are not included in this statute, statutes governing the Department of Agriculture and several state agencies such as the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality authorize those entities to accept grants. Authorizing the commissioner to accept grants would permit the commissioner to access money currently unavailable such as funds to support the alternative fuels program.
As proposed, H.B. 1138 authorizes the commissioner of the General Land Office to accept grants.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 31.065, Natural Resources Code, as follows:
Sec. 31.065. New heading: AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT GRANTS, GIFTS, DEVISES, TRUSTS, AND BEQUESTS. Includes grants among the items that the Commissioner of the General Land Office (commissioner) is authorized to accept, in the absence of any law to the contrary, if the commissioner determines that accepting the grant is in the best interest of the state. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.