HBA-RBT H.B. 3442 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3442
By: Isett
State, Federal & International Relations
4/1/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Historical Commission (commission) has been charged with
identifying unmarked burials and cemeteries in our Texas communities for
the purpose of historical preservation.  The commission operates the
Historic Texas Cemetery Designation Program to identify unknown cemeteries
and promote an attitude of respect and reverence for these cemeteries.   

H.B. 3442 requires the commission to establish a program to identify and
preserve abandoned cemeteries across the state.  It encourages the
commission to use volunteers to the maximum extent possible to implement
the program. 

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.  Amends Chapter 442, Government Code, by adding Section 442.017,
as follows: 

Sec.  442.017.  IDENTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION OF ABANDONED CEMETERIES.
Requires the Texas Historical Commission (commission) to establish a
program to identify and preserve abandoned cemeteries across the state.
Encourages the commission to use volunteers to the maximum extent possible
to implement the program and to model the program to the extent appropriate
on the "adopt a beach" program conducted by the General Land Office.
Authorizes the legislature to appropriate money to the commission to
implement the program. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.