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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the allocation and use of the sporting goods sales tax |
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revenue to fund state and local parks. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11.035(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The department shall deposit to the credit of the state |
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parks account all revenue, less allowable costs, received from the |
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following sources: |
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(1) grants or operation of concessions in state parks |
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or fishing piers; |
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(2) publications on state parks, state historic sites, |
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or state scientific areas; |
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(3) fines or penalties received from violations of |
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regulations governing parks issued pursuant to Subchapter B, |
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Chapter 13[, of this code]; |
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(4) fees and revenue collected under Section 11.027(b) |
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or (c) [of this code] that are associated with state park lands; |
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(5) an amount of money equal to 74 [$1,125,000 per
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month and 40] percent of the [amount above $27 million per year of] |
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credits made to the department under Section 151.801, Tax Code; and |
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(6) any other source provided by law. |
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SECTION 2. Section 11.043(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The account consists of: |
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(1) the amount of credits made to the department under |
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Section 151.801, Tax Code, after allocations to: |
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(A) the state parks account; |
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(B) the large county and municipality recreation |
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and parks account; and |
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(C) the Texas recreation and parks account; |
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(2) [,] proceeds of revenue bonds issued under Section |
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13.0045; [,] or |
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(3) any other source authorized by law. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 24, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended |
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by designating Sections 24.001 through 24.013 as Subchapter A and |
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adding a heading for Subchapter A to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A. LOCAL PARKS FOR SMALLER COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES |
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AND OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS |
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SECTION 4. Section 24.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter [chapter]: |
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(1) "Political subdivision" means a county, |
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municipality [city], special district, river authority, or other |
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governmental entity created under the authority of the state or a |
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county or municipality [city]. |
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(2) "Urban area" means the area within a standard |
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metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) in this state used in the last |
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preceding federal census. |
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(3) "Park" includes land and water parks owned or |
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operated by the state or a political subdivision. |
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(4) "Open space area" means a land or water area for |
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human use and enjoyment that is relatively free of man-made |
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structures. |
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(5) "Natural area" means a site having valuable or |
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vulnerable natural resources, ecological processes, or rare, |
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threatened, or endangered species of vegetation or wildlife. |
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(6) "Parks, recreational, and open space area plan" |
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means a comprehensive plan that includes information on and |
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analyses of parks, recreational, and open space area objectives, |
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needs, resources, environment, and uses, and that identifies the |
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amounts, locations, characteristics, and potentialities of areas |
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for adequate parks, recreational, and open space opportunities. |
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(7) "Federal rehabilitation and recovery grants" |
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means matching grants made by the United States to or for political |
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subdivisions for the purpose of rebuilding, remodeling, expanding, |
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or developing existing outdoor or indoor parks, recreational, or |
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open space areas and facilities, including improvements in park |
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landscapes, buildings, and support facilities. |
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(8) "Account" means the Texas recreation and parks |
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account. |
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(9) "Rural area" means any area not included in an |
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urban area. |
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(10) "Cultural resource site or area" means a site or |
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area determined by the commission to have valuable and vulnerable |
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cultural or historical resources. |
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(11) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonpolitical |
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legal entity incorporated under the laws of this state that has been |
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granted an exemption from federal income tax under Section 501(c), |
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Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
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(12) "Underserved population" means any group of |
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people that is low income, inner city, or rural as determined by the |
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last census, or minority, physically or mentally challenged youth |
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at risk, youth, or female. |
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SECTION 5. Section 24.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.002. TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS ACCOUNT. The Texas |
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recreation and parks account is a separate account in the general |
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revenue fund. Money in the account may be used only as provided by |
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this subchapter for grants to: |
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(1) a county or municipality with a population of less |
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than 500,000; or |
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(2) any other political subdivision that is not a |
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county or municipality. |
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SECTION 6. Section 24.003, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.003. ACCOUNT REVENUE SOURCE; REVENUE DEDICATION. |
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The department shall deposit to the credit of the Texas recreation |
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and parks account: |
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(1) an amount of money equal to 15 [$1,125,000 per
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month and 40] percent of the [amount above $27 million per year of] |
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credits made to the department under Section 151.801, Tax Code; and |
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[or] |
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(2) money from any other source authorized by law. |
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SECTION 7. Section 24.005(e), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) The department may provide from the account for direct |
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administrative costs of the programs described by this subchapter |
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[chapter]. |
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SECTION 8. Section 24.008(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) No property may be acquired with grant money made under |
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this subchapter [chapter] or by the department under this |
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subchapter [chapter] if the purchase price exceeds the fair market |
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value of the property as determined by one independent appraiser. |
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SECTION 9. Section 24.009, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.009. PAYMENTS, RECORDS, AND ACCOUNTING. (a) On the |
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approval of a grant under this subchapter [chapter] and on the |
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written request by the director, the comptroller of public accounts |
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shall issue a warrant drawn against the Texas recreation and parks |
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account and payable to the political subdivision or nonprofit |
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corporation in the amount specified by the director. |
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(b) Each recipient of assistance under this subchapter |
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[chapter] shall keep records as required by the department, |
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including records which fully disclose the amount and the |
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disposition of the proceeds by the recipient, the total cost of the |
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acquisition, a copy of the title and deed for the property acquired, |
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the amount and nature of that portion of the cost of the acquisition |
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supplied by other funds, and other records that facilitate |
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effective audit. The director and the comptroller, or their |
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authorized representatives, may examine any book, document, paper, |
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and record of the recipient that are pertinent to assistance |
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received under this subchapter [chapter]. |
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(c) The recipient of funds under this subchapter [chapter] |
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shall, on each anniversary date of the grant for five years after |
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the grant is made, furnish to the department a comprehensive report |
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detailing the present and anticipated use of the property, any |
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contiguous additions to the property, and any major changes in the |
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character of the property, including the extent of park development |
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which may have taken place. |
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SECTION 10. Section 24.011, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.011. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH SUBCHAPTER [ACT]. The |
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attorney general shall file suit in a court of competent |
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jurisdiction against a political subdivision or nonprofit |
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corporation that fails to comply with the requirements of this |
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subchapter [chapter] to recover the full amount of the grant plus |
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interest on that amount of five percent a year accruing from the |
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time of noncompliance or for injunctive relief to require |
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compliance with this subchapter [chapter]. If the court finds that |
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the political subdivision or nonprofit corporation has not complied |
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with the requirements of this subchapter [chapter], it is not |
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eligible for further participation in the program for three years |
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following the finding for noncompliance. |
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SECTION 11. Section 24.013, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.013. AUTHORITY OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO HAVE |
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PARKS. This subchapter [chapter] does not authorize a political |
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subdivision to acquire, develop, maintain, or operate a park, |
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recreational area, open space area, or natural area. |
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SECTION 12. Chapter 24, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter B to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. PARKS FOR LARGE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES |
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Sec. 24.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Account" means the large county and municipality |
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recreation and parks account. |
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(2) "Cultural resource site or area" means a site or |
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area determined by the commission to have valuable and vulnerable |
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cultural or historical resources. |
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(3) "Federal rehabilitation and recovery grants" |
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means matching grants made by the United States to or for political |
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subdivisions for the purpose of rebuilding, remodeling, expanding, |
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or developing existing outdoor or indoor parks, recreational, or |
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open space areas and facilities, including improvements in park |
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landscapes, buildings, and support facilities. |
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(4) "Large county or municipality" means a county or |
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municipality with a population of 500,000 or more. |
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(5) "Natural area" means a site having valuable or |
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vulnerable natural resources, ecological processes, or rare, |
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threatened, or endangered species of vegetation or wildlife. |
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(6) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonpolitical |
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legal entity incorporated under the laws of this state that has been |
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granted an exemption from federal income tax under Section 501(c), |
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Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
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(7) "Open space area" means a land or water area for |
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human use and enjoyment that is relatively free of man-made |
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structures. |
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(8) "Park" includes land and water parks owned or |
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operated by the state or a political subdivision. |
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(9) "Parks, recreational, and open space area plan" |
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means a comprehensive plan that includes information on and |
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analyses of parks, recreational, and open space area objectives, |
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needs, resources, environment, and uses, and that identifies the |
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amounts, locations, characteristics, and potentialities of areas |
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for adequate parks, recreational, and open space opportunities. |
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(10) "Political subdivision" means a county, |
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municipality, special district, river authority, or other |
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governmental entity created under the authority of the state or a |
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county or municipality. |
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(11) "Underserved population" means any group of |
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people that is low income or inner city, as determined by the last |
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census, or minority, physically or mentally challenged youth at |
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risk, youth, or female. |
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Sec. 24.052. LARGE COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY RECREATION AND |
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PARKS ACCOUNT. The large county and municipality recreation and |
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parks account is a separate account in the general revenue fund. |
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Money in the account may be used only as provided by this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 24.053. ACCOUNT REVENUE SOURCE; DEDICATION. The |
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department shall deposit to the credit of the large county and |
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municipality recreation and parks account: |
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(1) an amount of money equal to 10 percent of the |
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credits made to the department under Section 151.801, Tax Code; and |
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(2) money from any other source authorized by law. |
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Sec. 24.054. ASSISTANCE GRANTS. (a) The department may |
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make grants of money from the account to a large county or |
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municipality for use by the county or municipality as all or part of |
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the county's or municipality's required share of funds for |
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eligibility for receiving a federal rehabilitation and recovery |
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grant. |
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(b) In order to receive a grant under this section, the |
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county or municipality seeking the federal grant shall apply to the |
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department for the grant and present evidence that the county or |
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municipality qualifies for the federal grant. |
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(c) A grant under this section is conditioned on the county |
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or municipality qualifying for and receiving the federal grant. |
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Sec. 24.055. DIRECT STATE MATCHING GRANTS. (a) The |
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department shall make grants of money from the account to a large |
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county or municipality to provide one-half of the costs of the |
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planning, acquisition, or development of a park, recreational area, |
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or open space area to be owned and operated by the county or |
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municipality. |
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(b) In establishing the program of grants under this |
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section, the department shall adopt rules and regulations for grant |
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assistance. |
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(c) Money granted to a county or municipality under this |
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section may be used for the operation and maintenance of parks, |
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recreational areas, cultural resource sites or areas, and open |
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space areas only: |
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(1) if the park, site, or area is owned or operated and |
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maintained by the department and is being transferred by the |
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commission for public use to the county or municipality for |
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operation and maintenance; and |
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(2) during the period the commission determines to be |
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necessary to effect the official transfer of the park, site, or |
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area. |
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(d) The department shall make grants of money from the |
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account to a large county or municipality or to a nonprofit |
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corporation for use in a large county or municipality for |
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recreation, conservation, or education programs for underserved |
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populations to encourage and implement increased access to and use |
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of parks, recreational areas, cultural resource sites or areas, and |
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open space areas by underserved populations. |
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(e) The department may provide from the account for direct |
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administrative costs of the programs described by this subchapter. |
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Sec. 24.056. FUNDS FOR GRANTS TO LARGE COUNTIES AND |
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MUNICIPALITIES. When revenue to the large county and municipality |
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recreation and parks account exceeds $14 million per year, an |
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amount not less than 15 percent shall be made available for grants |
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to large counties and municipalities for up to 50 percent of the |
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cost of acquisition or development of indoor public recreation |
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facilities for indoor recreation programs, sports activities, |
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nature programs, or exhibits. |
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Sec. 24.057. ACCOUNT USE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH PLANS. No |
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grant may be made under Section 24.055 nor may account money be used |
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under Section 24.056 unless: |
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(1) there is a present or future need for the |
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acquisition and development of the property for which the grant is |
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requested or the use is proposed; and |
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(2) a written statement is obtained from the regional |
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planning commission having jurisdiction of the area in which the |
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property is to be acquired and developed that the acquisition and |
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development is consistent with local needs. |
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Sec. 24.058. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY. (a) No property may |
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be acquired with grant money made under this subchapter or by the |
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department under this subchapter if the purchase price exceeds the |
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fair market value of the property as determined by one independent |
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appraiser. |
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(b) Property may be acquired with provision for a life |
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tenancy if that provision facilitates the orderly and expedient |
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acquisition of the property. |
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(c) If land or water designated for park, recreational, |
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cultural resource, or open space use is included in the local and |
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regional park, recreational, cultural resource, and open space |
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plans for two or more large counties or municipalities, the two or |
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more large counties or municipalities may cooperate under state law |
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to secure assistance from the account to acquire or develop the |
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property. In those cases, the department may modify the standards |
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for individual applicants but must be assured that a cooperative |
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management plan for the land or water can be developed and |
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effectuated and that one of the counties or municipalities |
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possesses the necessary qualifications to perform contractual |
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responsibilities for purposes of the grant. |
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(d) All land or water purchased with assistance from the |
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account shall be dedicated for park, recreational, cultural |
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resource, indoor recreation center, and open space purposes in |
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perpetuity and may not be used for any other purpose, except where |
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the use is compatible with park, recreational, cultural resource, |
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and open space objectives, and the use is approved in advance by the |
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department. |
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Sec. 24.059. PAYMENTS, RECORDS, AND ACCOUNTING. (a) On the |
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approval of a grant under this subchapter and on the written request |
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by the director, the comptroller shall issue a warrant drawn |
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against the large county and municipality recreation and parks |
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account and payable to the county, municipality, or nonprofit |
|
corporation in the amount specified by the director. |
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(b) Each recipient of assistance under this subchapter |
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shall keep records as required by the department, including records |
|
that fully disclose the amount and the disposition of the proceeds |
|
by the recipient, the total cost of the acquisition, a copy of the |
|
title and deed for the property acquired, the amount and nature of |
|
that portion of the cost of the acquisition supplied by other funds, |
|
and other records that facilitate effective audit. The director |
|
and the comptroller, or their authorized representatives, may |
|
examine any book, document, paper, and record of the recipient that |
|
are pertinent to assistance received under this subchapter. |
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(c) The recipient of funds under this subchapter shall, on |
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each anniversary date of the grant for five years after the grant is |
|
made, furnish to the department a comprehensive report detailing |
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the present and anticipated use of the property, any contiguous |
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additions to the property, and any major changes in the character of |
|
the property, including the extent of park development that may |
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have taken place. |
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Sec. 24.060. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH SUBCHAPTER. The attorney |
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general shall file suit in a court of competent jurisdiction |
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against a county, municipality, or nonprofit corporation that fails |
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to comply with the requirements of this subchapter to recover the |
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full amount of the grant plus interest on that amount of five |
|
percent a year accruing from the time of noncompliance or for |
|
injunctive relief to require compliance with this subchapter. If |
|
the court finds that the county, municipality, or nonprofit |
|
corporation has not complied with the requirements of this |
|
subchapter, it is not eligible for further participation in the |
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program for three years following the finding for noncompliance. |
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Sec. 24.061. ACCOUNT NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICITY. No money |
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credited to the account may be used for publicity or related |
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purposes. |
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Sec. 24.062. AUTHORITY OF LARGE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY TO |
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HAVE PARKS. This subchapter does not authorize a large county or |
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municipality to acquire, develop, maintain, or operate a park, |
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recreational area, open space area, or natural area. |
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SECTION 13. Section 151.801(c), Tax Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
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(c) The proceeds from the collection of the taxes imposed by |
|
this chapter on the sale, storage, or use of sporting goods shall be |
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[deposited as follows:
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[(1) For the period beginning September 1, 1993, and
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ending August 31, 1995, an amount equal to 50 cents per 1,000
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cigarettes shall be deposited to the credit of the general revenue
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fund, state parks account, and an amount equal to 50 cents per 1,000
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cigarettes shall be deposited to the credit of the general revenue
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fund, Texas recreation and parks account, and the balance shall be
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retained in the general revenue fund.
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[(2) Beginning September 1, 1995, the taxes collected
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shall be] credited to the Parks and Wildlife Department and |
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deposited as specified in the Parks and Wildlife Code. [The
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comptroller shall not credit in excess of $32 million in sporting
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goods tax revenue annually to the Parks and Wildlife Department.] |
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SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |