H.B. No. 2719
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the powers of the Texas Historical Commission over
  historic sites in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 442.0053, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 442.0053.  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF REAL
  PROPERTY IN STATE HISTORIC SITES SYSTEM. (a) The commission by
  rule shall adopt criteria for determining the eligibility of real
  property [donated to the commission] for inclusion in the historic
  sites system.
         (b)  The commission may acquire by purchase or gift or in any
  other manner [accept a donation of] real property that satisfies
  the criteria adopted under Subsection (a).
         (b-1)  Before adding real property to the historic sites
  system under this section, the commission shall develop a funding
  plan for the restoration, interpretation, development, long-term
  operation, and preservation of the real property to be added to the
  historic sites system.  The plan may provide for an endowment fund,
  or other sources of funding, as appropriate. The commission may not
  add the real property to the historic sites system unless there are
  adequate financial resources available or assured for the
  restoration, interpretation, development, long-term operation, and
  preservation of the real property.
         (c)  The commission may:
               (1)  renovate or restore [donated] real property
  acquired under Subsection (b), including improvements to the
  property; [,] or
               (2)  construct new improvements on the [donated] real
  property as necessary and prudent.
         SECTION 2.  Section 442.0083(e), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  A grant for a historic courthouse project may not exceed
  the greater of $10 [$6] million or two percent of the amount
  appropriated for implementing the historic courthouse preservation
  program during the state fiscal biennium.
         SECTION 3.  The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter 442,
  Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C.  COMMISSION JURISDICTION OVER [CERTAIN]
  HISTORIC SITES
         SECTION 4.  Section 442.071, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 442.071.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "historic
  site" means:
               (1)  a site [or park] listed under Section 442.072; or
               (2)  real property significant to the history of this
  state that the commission administers or acquires for use by the
  public.
         SECTION 5.  Section 442.072, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 442.072.  COMMISSION JURISDICTION; AGREEMENTS FOR
  HISTORIC SITES. (a)  The following historic sites in this state
  [and parks] are under the commission's jurisdiction:
               (1)  Acton State Historic Site;
               (2)  Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site;
               (3)  Casa Navarro State Historic Site;
               (4)  Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site;
               (5)  Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site;
               (6)  Fannin Battleground State Historic Site;
               (7)  Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site;
               (8)  Fort Griffin State Historic Site;
               (9)  Fort Lancaster State Historic Site;
               (10)  Fort McKavett State Historic Site;
               (11)  Fulton Mansion State Historic Site;
               (12)  Landmark Inn State Historic Site;
               (13)  Levi Jordan State Historic Site;
               (14)  Lipantitlan State Historic Site;
               (15)  Magoffin Home State Historic Site;
               (16)  Mission Dolores State Historic Site;
               (17)  Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic
  Sites;
               (18)  National Museum of the Pacific War;
               (19)  Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site;
               (20)  Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site;
               (21)  Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site;
               (22)  San Felipe State Historic Site;
               (23)  Starr Family Home State Historic Site;
               (24)  Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site;
               (25)  Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site;
  and
               (26)  the property known as the French Legation.
         (b)  [This subsection applies to a historic site that the
  state is required to operate in a particular manner or for a
  particular purpose, such as a site improved with federal money
  subject to federal restrictions on the purposes for which the
  improved site may be used or a site donated to the state subject to a
  reversion clause providing that the title reverts to the grantor
  when the site is not used for the purposes for which it was
  acquired.  The commission has all powers necessary to operate the
  site in the required manner or for the required purpose.
         [(c)]  The commission may enter into an agreement with a
  nonprofit or for-profit corporation, foundation, association, or
  other nonprofit or for-profit entity for the expansion, renovation,
  management, operation, or financial support of a historic site.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter D, Chapter 442, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 442.112 and 442.113 to read as follows:
         Sec. 442.112.  STATE HISTORIC SITE RETAIL OPERATIONS. (a)
  The commission may establish, manage, and operate gift and souvenir
  retail establishments and provide retail services through the
  Internet or another electronic method to support and promote state
  historic sites and related commission goals.
         (b)  To implement this section, the commission may:
               (1)  employ necessary personnel;
               (2)  establish procurement standards and procedures in
  collaboration with the comptroller and the Department of
  Information Resources to meet the business needs of the
  commission's retail operations; and
               (3)  contract with a nonprofit corporation to assist
  with the commission's retail operations, accept money from the
  retail operations, and support state historic site operations and
  commission educational missions.
         Sec. 442.113.  TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION RETAIL
  OPERATIONS FUND. (a) The Texas Historical Commission retail
  operations fund is a special fund established outside the state
  treasury as a fund to be held and administered by the comptroller as
  directed by the commission to provide support for commission retail
  operations under Section 442.112.  The fund consists of revenue
  from commission retail operations and may not include appropriated
  money.
         (b)  Interest and income from assets of the fund shall be
  credited to and deposited in the fund.
         (c)  Money in the fund may be spent without appropriation and
  be used only to benefit state historic sites and to support the
  commission's retail operations, including to pay personnel
  salaries, acquire capital improvements, contract for necessary
  services, and purchase inventory, advertising, fixtures, computer
  software, and other goods necessary to support the retail
  operations.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2719 was passed by the House on April
  20, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2719 on May 19, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 137, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2719 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 17, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor