BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 496

By: Perry

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that some courthouses in rural areas of Texas are unable to qualify for grants or loans from the historic courthouse preservation program administered by the Texas Historical Commission due to their inability to contribute sufficient matching funds, as many of these courthouses are located within smaller counties with smaller tax bases. S.B. 496 seeks to address this issue by requiring the commission to consider the local funding capacity of a municipality or county when considering whether to grant applications under the 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

S.B. 496 amends the Government Code to include a county's or municipality's local funding capacity as measured by the total taxable value of properties in the county or municipality, as applicable, as a factor the Texas Historical Commission is required to consider in considering whether to grant an application for a grant or loan under its historic courthouse preservation program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.