BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3781
85R22114 SLB-F	By: Phelan (Hinojosa)
	Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
	5/18/2017
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

According to interested parties, the state would benefit from a revision of the permissible uses of money in the lifetime license endowment account by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. H.B. 3781 provides this revision.

 

H.B. 3781 amends current law relating to the uses of the lifetime license endowment account by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

 

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 11.063, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 11.063. USES OF ACCOUNT. Authorizes money in the lifetime license endowment fund and interest earned on the lifetime license endowment account (lifetime account), to the extent allowed by federal law, to be used only for the purpose of managing the fish and wildlife resources of this state, as follows:

 

(1) acquiring public hunting and fishing areas. Makes nonsubstantive changes;

 

(2) developing, managing, and repairing public hunting and fishing areas. Makes a nonsubstantive change; and

 

(3) making capital expenditures related to fisheries and wildlife resources, including land acquisition, construction, and the purchase of transportation items, equipment, and information technology resources.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 11.064, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 11.064. RESTRICTIONS. (a) Requires that no expenditure be made from the principal of the lifetime account if that expenditure would lower the unencumbered balance of the principal of the account below $20 million, rather than no expenditures shall be made from the principal of the lifetime account except as provided by law. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

(b) Prohibits the interest earnings on and principal in the lifetime account from being used to pay salaries or employee benefits.

 

(c) Authorizes the interest earnings on the lifetime account to be used for any purpose described by Section 11.063.

 

(d) Authorizes the principal in the lifetime account to be used only for the purpose described by Section 11.063(3) (relating to certain expenditures related to fisheries and wildlife resources).

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.