HBA-KDB H.B. 2877 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2877
By: Goolsby
House Administration
4/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The State Preservation Board (board) was established in 1983 by the 68th
Legislature for the purpose of preserving, maintaining, and restoring the
State Capitol and the General Land Office Building and their contents and
grounds.  In 1997, the 75th Legislature approved the Bob Bullock Texas
State History Museum and authorized the board to manage the design,
construction, and governance of the museum. House Bill 2877 sets forth
modified provisions for the operations, powers, and duties of the board. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2877 amends the Government Code to authorize, rather than
require, the executive director of the State Preservation Board (board) to
employ a curator of the Capitol.  The bill requires the curator to develop
a collections policy regarding items of historical significance with the
assistance of a review committee composed of five members whose
qualifications, tenure, and duties are defined by the executive director.
Provisions governing state agency advisory committees do not apply to the
review committee. The bill removes provisions that require the curator to
approve all exhibits placed in the buildings and to make a good faith
effort, with the board and the architect, to assist Texas businesses to
receive a significant percentage of the total value of all contract awards
for the purchase of supplies, materials, services, and equipment that are
made throughout the duration of the restoration project. 

The bill provides that parking fees paid through parking meters maintained
by the board and parking fees paid in a visitor parking facility operated
by the board or the Texas State History Museum (museum) are exempt from the
application of  limited sales, excise, and use taxes. 

The bill removes provisions that authorize the executive director of the
board, as appropriate, to approve in writing the purchase or lease of goods
and services needed to repair or improve an area within the Capitol,
Capitol extension, Capitol grounds, or General Land Office building, if the
cost of the purchase or lease will not exceed $15,000 and that require the
executive director to notify the board in writing of any expenditure in
excess of $15,000. 

The Information Resources Management Act does  not apply to the board.  The
bill authorizes, rather than requires, the board to preserve, maintain,
restore, and furnish Woodlawn and its contents and grounds. 

The bill entitles the board to obtain criminal history record information
maintained by the Department of Public Safety that relates to certain
persons in a position that involves handling money or checks, working in
the Capitol or another area designated by the public safety director as
security sensitive, or direct contact with persons under 18 years of age.  

The bill repeals provisions that require the state auditor to annually
review the Capitol fund and the museum  fund.  The bill abolishes the
museum advisory committee. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect on the 91st day after adjournment.