BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2065

By: Lucio III

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Artificial reefs provide complex, durable, and stable homes for marine wildlife. 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. It has been suggested that since 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 seeks to provide general revenue funding for the artificial reef program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 2065 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the legislature to appropriate money from the general revenue fund to the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for salaries of TPWD employees implementing wildlife and plant conservation provisions relating to artificial reefs and for costs associated with those employees, including the cost of employee benefits.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.