BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1758

By: Schwertner

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The University of Texas System owns close to seventy acres of land in Smithville, Texas, specifically at Buescher State Park. For over 40 years, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center housed its research operations at the land located at the state park. Unfortunately, the center announced in 2019 that they would be moving their research operations to Houston. The research center was one of Bastrop County's largest employers, with 175 employees focusing on specific research.

In 1967, the legislature passed H.B. 800, which allowed the Parks and Wildlife Department to transfer, and The University of Texas System to accept, land in Bastrop County that had been deeded to the City of Smithville and Mrs. Elizabeth Buescher. The legislation specified that the system would accept the land on behalf of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, to be used by the system as a science park and for research purposes. Since the science park is no longer in use, legislative action is needed to change the dedicated use of the land. S.B. 1758 seeks to address this issue by providing for such change in order to continue the use of the land in a manner that is consistent with the system's mission and to continue to provide vital assistance to the local economy.

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. 1758 amends Chapter 70 (H.B. 800), Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, to change the purposes for which certain land conveyed or transferred by the Parks and Wildlife Department to the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System for The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute may be used by the system from the purposes of a science park and research purposes to any purpose consistent with the mission of the system or a component institution of the system.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.