BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 2484

81R17310 PMO-D                                                                                                            By: Ogden

                                                                                                                                                Finance

                                                                                                                                            4/17/2009

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

In 1987, the 70th Legislature, Second Called Session, passed S.B. 52, which transferred jurisdiction of 50 acres from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).  The 50 acres is now a county park, known as Twin Lakes Park, and is operated and maintained by Williamson County.  TxDOT has offered to transfer an additional 6.18 acres at no cost representing an inholding at the Twin Lakes Park site.  The additional acreage will be leased to Williamson County to be used as parkland. 

 

As proposed,  S.B. 2484 authorizes the transfer of that land for a public park.  

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  (a)  Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), not later than December 31, 2009, to transfer to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) the real property described by Subsection (d) of this section.

 

(b)  Requires that the consideration for the transfer authorized by Subsection (a) of this section is that TPWD use the property transferred only for a public park, a purpose that benefits the public interest of the state. Provides that ownership of the property automatically reverts to TxDOT if TPWD no longer uses the property for a public park.

 

(c)  Requires TxDOT to transfer the property by an appropriate instrument of transfer, executed on its behalf by the commissioner of the General Land Office. Requires that the instrument of transfer include a provision that:

 

(1) requires TPWD to use the property for a public park, a purpose that benefits the public interest of the state; allows TPWD to lease the property described by Subsection (d) to the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department for use as a public park; and indicates that ownership of the property automatically reverts to TxDOT if TPWD no longer uses the property for a public park; and

 

(2)  describes the property to be transferred by metes and bounds.

 

(d)  Sets forth the description of the tract of real property to which Subsection (a) of this section refers.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.