HBA-MPM, MPM H.B. 2249 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2249
By: Chisum
Environmental Regulation
3/16/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The House Committee on Environmental Regulation's interim report to the
76th Legislature found that the Texas Environmental Educational Partnership
(TEEP) has the potential to serve in a leadership capacity for
environmental education in the United States.  

H.B. 2249 establishes the TEEP Fund, a public and private nonprofit
education partnership, which provides a means for receiving and disbursing
funds, and also creates the fund's board of directors and defines the
fund's relationship with participating partners. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "board" as the board of directors of the
Texas Environmental Education Partnership (TEEP) Fund, "participating
partner" as an entity designated as a participating partner under SECTION 4
of this Act, "TEEP Fund" as the Texas Environmental Education Partnership
Fund established under SECTION 2 of this Act, and the "TEEP trust fund" as
the Texas Environmental Education Partnership trust fund established under
SECTION 6 of this Act. 

SECTION 2.  ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
FUND.  Establishes the fund, and requires it to operate as a public and
private nonprofit education partnership. 

SECTION 3.  Sets forth the purpose of the fund.

SECTION 4.  DESIGNATION OF PARTICIPATING PARTNER.  Requires the board to
designate one or more public/private partnership entities as a
participating partner to develop and propose environmental education
projects, activities, and programs to receive assistance from the fund.
Provides that a participating partner must represent a broad spectrum of
public and private interests relating to environmental and educational
concerns. 

SECTION 5.  TEEP FUND BOARD.  Provides that the board consists of no more
than 12 members, and sets fort the appointment method and composition of
the board.  Provides that a board member is appointed for a two-year term
which expires February 1 of each odd-numbered year.  Provides that the
member serves at the will of the appointing official and that a member
representing the senate or house of representatives is a nonvoting member.
Stipulates that a member is not entitled to compensation, but is entitled
to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing
board duties.  Authorizes the board to accept donations, gifts, grants, or
other money made available to the fund for purposes of this Act.  Requires
the board to deposit these monies or any other money accepted by a board
member on behalf of the trust fund into the trust fund. 

SECTION 6.  TEEP TRUST FUND.  (a) Establishes the trust fund as a fund
outside the treasury to be held by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust
Company and administered by the board of the Texas Environmental Education
Partnership Fund for the benefit of a participating partner or
environmental education projects, activities, and programs proposed by a
participating partner and approved by the board.   

(b)  Specifies that money in the fund may be used only to award grants or
money for environmental education projects, activities, and programs
proposed by a participating partner and approved by the board, and to
reimburse board members for actual expenses incurred in performing board
duties. 

(c)  Provides that the trust fund consists of donations, gifts, grants, or
other money made available to the fund for the purposes of this Act. 

SECTION 7.  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.  Requires the board to adopt and publish
eligibility criteria to be considered in making a grant or award of money
from the fund.  Sets forth certain considerations that the board is
required to include in adopting criteria. 

SECTION 8.  APPOINTMENT OF BOARD.  Requires the governor, the lieutenant
governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives to appoint board
members as provided by Section 5 of this Act as soon as practicable after
the effective date.  Provides that the initial board members are appointed
for terms which expire February 1, 2001. 

SECTION 9.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.