By: Schwertner S.B. No. 1656
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the preservation of Fairfield Lake State Park; granting
the power of eminent domain.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Q, Chapter 22, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 22.230 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER Q: FAIRFIELD LAKE STATE PARK
Sec. 22.230. PRESERVATION OF FAIRFIELD LAKE STATE
PARK. (a) The legislature finds that:
(1) in the year of the centennial celebration of Texas
State Parks, the state has a vested interested in preserving and
protecting state parks operated by Parks and Wildlife Department;
(2) the state of Texas and the Parks and Wildlife
Department have invested over $70 million in the development and
operation of Fairfield Lake State Park.
(b) the department has the power of eminent domain to
acquire in the manner provided by Chapter 21, Property Code, any
property necessary to preserve Fairfield Lake State Park, and to
carry out the purposes of this section, including the acquisition
of approximately 1,821.353 acres and the adjoining acres associated
with that property.
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 September 1, 2023.