HBA-CMT, CBW C.S.H.B. 310 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 310
By: Flores
State, Federal & International Relations
3/12/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



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.  C.S.H.B. 310 authorizes the Veterans Land Board to establish
a program for providing financial assistance for the establishment of
veterans 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 4
(Section 164.004, Natural Resources Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 310 amends the Natural Resources Code to provide that the Veterans
Land Board (board) may establish a program to provide financial assistance
for the establishment of veterans cemeteries. 

The bill requires the board to adopt rules providing for the administration
of its financial assistance programs for the veterans cemeteries.    

The bill requires the board to select up to seven locations across the
state to build veterans cemeteries. The bill requires the board to
establish guidelines for determining the location and size of veterans
cemeteries and the eligibility for burial in veterans cemeteries.  The
board is required to consult with the chairman of the Texas Veterans
Commission and two representatives of the veterans community selected by
the chairman when developing the guidelines and selecting the locations for
veterans cemeteries. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 310 modifies the original by removing the requirement that the
Veterans Land Board (board) create the Texas Veterans Cemetery System
(system).  Instead, the substitute authorizes the board to establish a
program for providing financial assistance for the establishment of
veterans cemeteries. Additionally, the original required the board to
select and dedicate cemetery property  for the system in seven locations,
whereas, the substitute requires the board to select up to seven locations.
Finally, the original required the General Land Office to contribute
financially to the operation of the system, whereas, the substitute removes
this provision.