BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3864

By: Smithee

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, if an individual or entity wishes to donate a building to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), they must go through a competitive bidding and approval process that increases the costs of the project and may deter the individual or entity from making the donation.

H.B. 3864 authorizes TPWD to accept the donation of a turnkey building project on state land if TPWD approves the plans and engineering in advance and has supervision over the project.  The bill provides that such a project is not subject to the competitive bidding process and grants the Parks and Wildlife Commission rulemaking authority.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3864 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to accept the donation of a turnkey building project on state land, provided that TPWD approves the plans and engineering in advance and has supervision over the project.  The bill establishes that such a project is not subject to competitive bidding.  The bill authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.