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.