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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of the Battleship "Texas." |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the |
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Battleship "Texas," a national historic landmark whose engines are |
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national mechanical engineering landmarks and that is the only |
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remaining battleship to have fought in World War I and World War II, |
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is maintained and preserved in satisfactory condition for the |
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benefit of the citizens of this state. |
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SECTION 2. Section 22.261, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.261. JURISDICTION. The Battleship "Texas" is under |
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the jurisdiction of the department. The department shall enter |
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into a memorandum of understanding for a term of 99 years with an |
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appropriate nonprofit foundation for the operation and maintenance |
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of the Battleship "Texas." |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter T, Chapter 22, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 22.262 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22.262. PRESERVATION STANDARDS. The memorandum of |
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understanding required by Section 22.261 must include provisions: |
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(1) governing the preservation, management, and |
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operation of the Battleship "Texas" consistent with the Standards |
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for Historic Vessel Preservation Projects with Guidelines for |
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Applying the Standards published by the Secretary of the United |
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States Department of the Interior as those standards existed on |
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January 1, 2019; |
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(2) requiring the nonprofit foundation described by |
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Section 22.261 to consult with the state historic preservation |
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officer on matters related to the preservation or repair of the |
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battleship; and |
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(3) regarding the protection of the public's interest |
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in maintaining and preserving a priceless historical asset in a |
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manner that ensures the public has access to the asset and an |
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opportunity to provide comment regarding the preservation of the |
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asset. |
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SECTION 4. The Parks and Wildlife Department shall enter |
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into the memorandum of understanding required by Section 22.261, |
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Parks and Wildlife Code, as amended by this Act, not later than the |
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later of: |
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(1) September 1, 2019; or |
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(2) the 90th day after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |