HBA-CMT, CBW H.B. 310 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 310 By: Flores State, Federal& International Relations 2/23/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is financing 100 percent of the development costs of veterans cemeteries that are state owned and operated. However, it will take state dollars to provide funding for the acquisition of land and for the care of the cemeteries once they are established. House Bill 310 creates Texas Veterans Cemetery System, establishes seven state veteran cemeteries spread geographically across the state, and authorizes funds to be appropriated for the maintenance of these veteran cemeteries. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Veterans' Land Board in SECTION 1 (Section 161.075, Natural Resources Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 310 amends the Natural Resources Code to require the Veterans' Land Board (board) to create the Texas Veterans Cemetery System (system), to the extent that funds are available from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill requires the board to oversee the entire operation of the system and to select and dedicate cemetery property for the system in seven locations spread geographically across the state. The bill requires the board to submit all plans, programs, and materials relating to the interpretation of historical features of the system to the Texas Historical Commission (commission) for its review and approval. The bill authorizes the commission to provide staff support for activities interpreting the historical features of the system. At the direction of the board, the bill requires the General Land Office (GLO) to spend money appropriated to or budgeted by GLO for the purposes of the system. The bill requires that activities relating to the maintenance of system grounds and monuments conform to the guidelines for historic preservation submitted to the board by the commission. The bill authorizes funds appropriated to GLO to be transferred by interagency contract for the performance, at the direction of the board, of an activity related to the system. The bill authorizes the board to accept a gift, grant, or bequest of money, securities, services, or property to carry out a purpose of the board related to the system. The bill authorizes to the board to participate in the establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise funds for or provide services or other benefits to the board for the purpose of the system and authorizes the board to contract with the nonprofit organization. The bill requires the board to adopt rules regulating eligibility for the burial in a system cemetery, and the size and number of grave plots in the system cemeteries, and the erection of monuments in system cemeteries. The bill also authorizes the board to adopt other rules for the administration of the system. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.