BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2065
86R6074 AAF-F	By: Lucio III (Lucio)
	Finance
	5/10/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Artificial reefs provide complex, durable, and stable habitat for marine life and ecology. Marine wildlife, in turn, attracts commercial and recreational angling and diving operations that play a vital role in, and can provide a significant boost to, local economies. The Gulf of Mexico holds very little naturally occurring reef; artificial reefs can be used to sustain marine wildlife where natural reefs are unable to form. To ensure the creation of additional artificial reefs on the Texas coast, H.B. 2065 authorizes general revenue funding for the artificial reef program.

H.B. 2065 amends current law relating to the use of general revenue appropriations for the artificial reef program.

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 89.041(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, to create an exception under Section 89.042(b) to the prohibition of the expenditure of general revenue funds in the development or implementation of the artificial reef plan.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 89.042, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

Sec. 89.042. New heading: DEDICATION; APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text.

(b) Authorizes the legislature to appropriate money from the general revenue fund to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for:

(1) salaries of TPWD employees implementing this chapter (Artificial Reefs); and

(2) costs associated with those employees, including the cost of employee benefits.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.