HBA-NIK H.B. 2944 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2944 By: Ellis, Dan Land & Resource Management 4/1/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) owns a 345.58 acre tract of primarily undeveloped property located on the northwest corner of FM Road 980 and State Highway 19, the appraised value of which is $640,000. The property was used in the past for gravel excavation and as a recreational area for TDCJ personnel. There are cabins, restroom facilities, a well house, a fishcleaning shack, and a pavilion, all of which comprise the former TDCJ Recreational Campground area. None of the buildings are currently in use and most are in need of repair. There is also an existing State Archaeological Landmark, Designation Number 41WA2, located on the premises that occupies approximately 17 acres of the tract. Sam Houston State University (SHSU) has requested the transfer of the acreage for the purpose of operating off-campus facilities to be used by SHSU staff and students for environmental studies, educational development, ROTC challenge courses and training, and social and cultural events. H.B. 2944 transfers the specified property to SHSU to be used only for governmental purposes. 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. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to transfer to the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System (board) for use by Sam Houston State University (SHSU) the real property described by Subsection (e), not later than January 31, 2000. (b) Requires TDCJ to transfer the property by an appropriate instrument of transfer. (c) Provides that the instrument of transfer must include a provision that requires SHSU to use the property only for a governmental purpose, and indicates that ownership of the property will automatically revert to TDCJ if SHSU uses the property for any purpose other than a governmental purpose. (d) Requires TDCJ to retain custody of the instrument of transfer after the instrument of transfer is filed in the real property records of Walker County. (e) Describes the real property referred to in this section. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.