By: Lucio III, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 2065

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2019; May 6, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; May 13, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 13, Nays 0; May 13, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of general revenue appropriations for the artificial reef program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 89.041(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) Except as provided by Section 89.042(b), [No state] general revenue funds may not [shall] be expended in the development or implementation of this plan.

SECTION 2. Section 89.042, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 89.042. DEDICATION; APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The funds received under Section 89.043 of this code are dedicated to the department for the purpose of carrying out this chapter, including siting, designing, constructing, monitoring, and otherwise managing an artificial reef or artificial reef system.

(b) The legislature may appropriate money from the general revenue fund to the department for:

(1) salaries of department employees implementing this chapter; and

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

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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