By: Phelan (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 3781
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2017;
May 9, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2017, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 19, 2017, sent
to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the uses of the lifetime license endowment account by
the Parks and Wildlife Department.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 11.063, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 11.063. USES OF ACCOUNT. To the extent allowed by
federal law, money in the lifetime license endowment fund and
interest [Interest] earned on the lifetime license endowment
account may be used only for the purpose of managing the fish and
wildlife resources of this state, as follows [to]:
(1) acquiring [acquire] public hunting and fishing
areas; [and]
(2) developing, managing, and repairing [develop,
manage, and repair] public hunting and fishing areas; and
(3) making capital expenditures related to fisheries
and wildlife resources, including:
(A) land acquisition;
(B) construction; and
(C) the purchase of:
(i) transportation items;
(ii) equipment; and
(iii) information technology resources.
SECTION 2. Section 11.064, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 11.064. RESTRICTIONS. (a) No expenditure
[expenditures] shall be made from the principal of the lifetime
license endowment account if that expenditure would lower the
unencumbered balance of the principal of the account below $20
million [except as provided by law].
(b) The interest earnings on and principal in the lifetime
license endowment account may not be used to pay salaries or
employee benefits.
(c) The interest earnings on the lifetime license endowment
account may be used for any purpose described by Section 11.063.
(d) The principal in the lifetime license endowment account
may be used only for the purpose described by Section 11.063(3).
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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