BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3537
85R12338 JJT-F	By: Geren (Hancock)
	Finance
	5/12/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Interested parties call for money credited to the deferred maintenance fund account to remain subject to certain federal restrictions and for the restriction of the use of that money to a function required for state fish and wildlife resource management. H.B. 3537 seeks to provide for the continuation of those federal restrictions.

H.B. 3537 amends the Government Code to continue to subject the use of money credited to the deferred maintenance fund by appropriation or transfer from a fund or account in the state treasury the use of which is subject to restrictions under federal law, and the use of money earned as interest or other earnings on the investment of that money credited to the fund, to those federal restrictions. H.B. 3537 restricts the use of such money to a function required to manage Texas' fish or wildlife resources in accordance with those federal restrictions.

H.B. 3537 amends current law relating to the use of money subject to restrictions under federal law that is credited to the deferred maintenance fund account.

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. Amends Section 2165.403, Government Code, by adding Subsection (d), as follows:

(d) Provides that the use of money credited to the deferred maintenance fund account (fund) by appropriation or transfer from the game, fish, and water safety account, the lifetime license endowment account, or another find or account in the state treasury the use of which is subject to restrictions under the federal Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. Section 777 et seq.), the federal Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. Section 669 et seq.), or other federal law, and the use of money earned as interest or other earnings on the investment of that money credited to the fund, continues to be subject to those federal restrictions and is authorized to be used only for a function required to manage this state's fish or wildlife resources in accordance with those federal restrictions.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.