BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 2001

                                                                                                                                     By: Creighton

                                                                                                          Culture, Recreation, & Tourism

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Every year millions of road fuel tax refunds for gasoline and for water crafts are unclaimed.  As a result, the comptroller of public accounts sends unclaimed road fuel tax refunds to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). 

 

HB 2001 authorizes the TPWD to utilize this money to create a program to control nuisance aquatic vegetation in the state's rivers and lakes. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state office, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

The bill amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the TPWD to implement a program to control or eradicate nuisance aquatic vegetation for public water in this state.  To implement the program, the department is authorized to use money from unclaimed refunds of the tax on fuel used in motorboats appropriated to the department under Section 162.502(c) of the Tax Code.  The department is authorized to contract with a person they do not employ or use the services of department personnel to control or eradicate nuisance or noxious vegetation in the state's water.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.