81R11409 CS-D

By: Dunnam H.B. No. 3578

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Governor's Mansion and Woodlawn.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 442.0071(a), (b), and (d), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this section, the commission is solely responsible for the preservation and maintenance of the Governor's Mansion and the protection of the historical and architectural integrity of the mansion's exterior, interior, contents, and grounds. A [Except as provided by Subsection (d), a] substantial addition, deletion, or other alteration may not be made to the mansion or its contents or grounds without the prior approval of the commission.

(b) The commission shall:

(1) develop and maintain an inventory of the contents of the Governor's Mansion that includes all furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects and states the owner of each of those items;

(2) develop a plan for the acquisition, by purchase, donation, or loan, of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects for the mansion, especially early 19th-century American, museum-quality items and items having historical significance to the Governor's Mansion;

(3) develop a plan for the disposition of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects that the commission determines are not needed or inappropriate; [and]

(4) recommend and arrange for the conservation or restoration of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects in the mansion that are owned by the state; and

(5) develop a plan for converting the Governor's Mansion, on acquisition of Woodlawn, into a public museum with facilities for the governor to host receptions and public events.

(d) The commission shall solicit the advice and approval of the governor and the governor's spouse concerning activities of the commission under this section and the advice of the governor and the governor's spouse concerning the provisions of any contract executed under Subsection (c). [Except for a change in or to the Pease bedroom, the Sam Houston bedroom, the hallway, or the stairwell, a nonstructural decorative change in or to the private living and guest quarters of the governor and the governor's family on the second floor of the Governor's Mansion does not require the prior approval of the commission.]

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 442.0074 to read as follows:

Sec. 442.0074. WOODLAWN. (a) The commission shall make every effort to acquire, at fair market value, title to the historic property Woodlawn, also commonly known as the Pease Mansion and the Shivers Mansion, located at No. 6 Niles Road in Austin. The remaining provisions of this section apply only if the commission acquires Woodlawn.

(b) Once acquired, the property shall serve as the official residence of the governor.

(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this section, the commission is solely responsible for the preservation and maintenance of Woodlawn and the protection of the historical and architectural integrity of the residence's exterior, interior, contents, and grounds.

(d) The commission shall:

(1) develop and maintain an inventory of the contents of Woodlawn that includes all furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects and states the owner of each of those items;

(2) develop a plan for the acquisition, by purchase, donation, or loan, of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects for the residence, especially museum-quality early 19th-century American items and items having historical significance to the official residence of the governor;

(3) develop a plan for the disposition of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects that the commission determines are not needed or inappropriate; and

(4) recommend and arrange for the conservation or restoration of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects in the residence that are or were owned by the state or a former governor of the state.

(e) The commission may accept gifts, grants, or other donations on behalf of Woodlawn. The commission may contract with a nonprofit organization formed to assist in the preservation and maintenance of Woodlawn to develop and implement a plan for the solicitation and acceptance of gifts, grants, devises, and bequests of money, other property, and services to be used in the acquisition of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects for the residence or for necessary conservation or restoration services. The commission also may contract with a nonprofit organization described by this subsection for the performance of any duty provided by Subsection (d). A contract under this subsection may not exceed a term of two years and must expire on December 31 of an odd-numbered year.

(f) The commission shall solicit the advice and approval of the governor and the governor's spouse concerning activities of the commission under this section and the advice of the governor and the governor's spouse concerning the provisions of any contract executed under Subsection (e).

SECTION 3. Section 443.025, Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.