H.B. No. 2416
AN ACT
relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be
administered by the General Land Office.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 31, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 31.070 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.070. GULF COAST PROTECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The gulf
coast protection account is a dedicated account in the general
revenue fund administered by the land office under this section and
rules adopted by the land office.
(b) The gulf coast protection account consists of money
from:
(1) gifts, donations, and grants, including federal
grants; and
(2) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to
the account by the legislature.
(c) The land office shall deposit to the credit of the gulf
coast protection account any federal money received by the state
for the protection of the gulf coast, to the extent permitted by
federal law.
(d) Money in the gulf coast protection account may be used
only to pay for expenditures that:
(1) are eligible for credit towards the non-federal
match of the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility
Study Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact
Statement issued by the Galveston District, Southwestern Division,
of the United States Army Corps of Engineers;
(2) comply with the terms of a local cooperation
agreement executed by the land office and the Gulf Coast Protection
District established under Chapter 9502, Special District Local
Laws Code; and
(3) are for projects that are necessary or useful for
the protection of the portion of the gulf coast located within the
territory of the district.
(e) The legislature finds that the expenditure of money in
the gulf coast protection account in accordance with Subsection (d)
serves a public purpose.
(f) The expenditure of money in the gulf coast protection
account is subject to audit by the state auditor.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2416 was passed by the House on April
18, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 6, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2416 on May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2416 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 18, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor