81R11409 CS-D
By: Dunnam H.B. No. 3578
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Governor's Mansion and Woodlawn.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 442.0071(a), (b), and (d), Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this
section, the commission is solely responsible for the preservation
and maintenance of the Governor's Mansion and the protection of the
historical and architectural integrity of the mansion's exterior,
interior, contents, and grounds. A [Except as provided by
Subsection (d), a] substantial addition, deletion, or other
alteration may not be made to the mansion or its contents or grounds
without the prior approval of the commission.
(b) The commission shall:
(1) develop and maintain an inventory of the contents
of the Governor's Mansion that includes all furnishings, fixtures,
works of art, and decorative objects and states the owner of each of
those items;
(2) develop a plan for the acquisition, by purchase,
donation, or loan, of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and
decorative objects for the mansion, especially early 19th-century
American, museum-quality items and items having historical
significance to the Governor's Mansion;
(3) develop a plan for the disposition of furnishings,
fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects that the commission
determines are not needed or inappropriate; [and]
(4) recommend and arrange for the conservation or
restoration of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative
objects in the mansion that are owned by the state; and
(5) develop a plan for converting the Governor's
Mansion, on acquisition of Woodlawn, into a public museum with
facilities for the governor to host receptions and public events.
(d) The commission shall solicit the advice and approval of
the governor and the governor's spouse concerning activities of the
commission under this section and the advice of the governor and the
governor's spouse concerning the provisions of any contract
executed under Subsection (c). [Except for a change in or to the
Pease bedroom, the Sam Houston bedroom, the hallway, or the
stairwell, a nonstructural decorative change in or to the private
living and guest quarters of the governor and the governor's family
on the second floor of the Governor's Mansion does not require the
prior approval of the commission.]
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 442.0074 to read as follows:
Sec. 442.0074. WOODLAWN. (a) The commission shall make
every effort to acquire, at fair market value, title to the historic
property Woodlawn, also commonly known as the Pease Mansion and the
Shivers Mansion, located at No. 6 Niles Road in Austin. The
remaining provisions of this section apply only if the commission
acquires Woodlawn.
(b) Once acquired, the property shall serve as the official
residence of the governor.
(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this
section, the commission is solely responsible for the preservation
and maintenance of Woodlawn and the protection of the historical
and architectural integrity of the residence's exterior, interior,
contents, and grounds.
(d) The commission shall:
(1) develop and maintain an inventory of the contents
of Woodlawn that includes all furnishings, fixtures, works of art,
and decorative objects and states the owner of each of those items;
(2) develop a plan for the acquisition, by purchase,
donation, or loan, of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and
decorative objects for the residence, especially museum-quality
early 19th-century American items and items having historical
significance to the official residence of the governor;
(3) develop a plan for the disposition of furnishings,
fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects that the commission
determines are not needed or inappropriate; and
(4) recommend and arrange for the conservation or
restoration of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative
objects in the residence that are or were owned by the state or a
former governor of the state.
(e) The commission may accept gifts, grants, or other
donations on behalf of Woodlawn. The commission may contract with a
nonprofit organization formed to assist in the preservation and
maintenance of Woodlawn to develop and implement a plan for the
solicitation and acceptance of gifts, grants, devises, and bequests
of money, other property, and services to be used in the acquisition
of furnishings, fixtures, works of art, and decorative objects for
the residence or for necessary conservation or restoration
services. The commission also may contract with a nonprofit
organization described by this subsection for the performance of
any duty provided by Subsection (d). A contract under this
subsection may not exceed a term of two years and must expire on
December 31 of an odd-numbered year.
(f) The commission shall solicit the advice and approval of
the governor and the governor's spouse concerning activities of the
commission under this section and the advice of the governor and the
governor's spouse concerning the provisions of any contract
executed under Subsection (e).
SECTION 3. Section 443.025, Government Code, is repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.