By: Watson S.B. No. 4
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation, purpose, implementation, and funding of
the County Park Beautification and Improvement Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 10, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 328 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 328. COUNTY PARK BEAUTIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Sec. 328.001. PURPOSE; CREATION. It is the intent of the
legislature that each county dedicating land for use as county
parks be encouraged to beautify and improve those parks through
measures including but not limited to improvements in or additions
to lighting, directional and educational signs, litter abatement
strategies, and landscaping and landscape maintenance policies. In
furtherance of these goals, the County Park Beautification and
Improvement Program is established.
Sec. 328.002. IMPLEMENTATION. The commissioners court of a
county may by majority vote elect to participate in the program. On
such election, the commissioners court shall designate one person
in the division of the county government responsible for the care
and maintenance of the county parks as the coordinator for the
program. The coordinator may solicit advice and assistance from
state and county agencies and private organizations in developing
and implementing the program.
Sec. 328.003. REPORT; ADOPTION. The coordinator shall
report to the commissioners court the coordinator's findings and
shall recommend an implementation strategy to the commissioners
court. The commissioners court may reject or adopt the
implementation strategy. If the commissioners court rejects the
strategy, it shall specify to the coordinator the reasons for such
rejection, and the coordinator shall develop a new implementation
strategy to present to the commissioners court within six months of
the rejection. On adoption of an implementation strategy, the
commissioners court may fund the program as provided in Section
328.004.
Sec. 328.004. FUNDING. The commissioners court of a county
electing to participate in the program may solicit and accept
bequests, donations, grants, and other money, goods, and services
from federal, state, and private sources to finance and further the
goals of the program but may not levy any tax or receive any
legislative appropriation to fund such participation. The state is
not liable for debts or other obligations incurred by a county in
implementing or planning to implement the program under this
chapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.