BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3211

By: Cortez

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas is a San Antonio-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to champion the historical legacy and heritage of Hispanics.  Interested parties report  that the center's planned facility is envisioned as a cultural and historical resource that will provide education, collect oral histories and artifacts, and establish an awards and markers program. C.S.H.B. 3211 seeks to allow the Texas Historical Commission to assist the center in establishing a facility.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3211 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Historical Commission to assist the Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas in establishing a facility to educate Texans regarding the contributions and historical significance of Hispanic persons to Texas; to solicit and accept gifts, donations, and grants of money or property from any public or private source to be used for such purposes; and to use money appropriated to the commission for the center to assist the center in establishing a facility.

C.S.H.B. 3211 specifies that the commission is required to implement the bill's provisions only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose and authorizes, but does not require, the commission to implement the bill's provisions using other appropriations available for that purpose if the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3211 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 442.028 to read as follows: Sec. 442.028.  HISPANIC HERITAGE CENTER OF TEXAS GRANT PROGRAM.  (a)  The commission shall create and administer a grant program to support the development of the Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas by awarding grants to an organization that has committed resources to the center. (b)  The commission shall establish procedures to administer the grant program, including procedures for applying for a grant under this section. (c)  The legislature may appropriate money to the commission for the purpose of awarding grants under this section. (d)  The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this section.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 442.028 to read as follows: Sec. 442.028.  HISPANIC HERITAGE CENTER OF TEXAS.  The commission may: (1)  assist the Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas in establishing a facility to educate Texans regarding the contributions and historical significance of Hispanic persons to this state; (2)  solicit and accept gifts, donations, and grants of money or property from any public or private source to be used for the purposes of this section; and (3)  use money appropriated to the commission for the purposes of this section to assist the Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas as described by Subdivision (1).
SECTION 2.  The Texas Historical Commission shall establish the procedures for applying for a grant under Section 442.028, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than October 1, 2013.	No equivalent provision.
No equivalent provision.	SECTION 2.  The Texas Historical Commission is required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commission may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.