H.B. No. 2796
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of certain counties to create or finance
  museums.
         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 330 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 330. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
         Sec. 330.001.  OPERATION AND FINANCING OF COUNTY MUSEUMS.  
  (a)  This section applies only to a county that has substantial
  urban areas and borders on an international boundary.  For the
  purposes of this subsection, a county has substantial urban areas
  only if at least four municipalities, each with a population of more
  than 25,000, are located in the county.
         (b)  A county may construct or operate a museum in the county
  to display, construct, restore, preserve, maintain, or reconstruct
  buildings, works of art, and related furnishings for exhibitions.
         (c)  A county may contract with an entity operating a museum
  in the county to provide the museum described by Subsection (b).  To
  be eligible to enter into the contract, the entity must be:
               (1)  organized under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation
  Act (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); and
               (2)  accredited by a nationally recognized association
  of museums acceptable to the county.
         (d)  As part of the contract, the commissioners court may
  appropriate money from the general fund of the county to the museum
  to purchase, display, construct, restore, preserve, maintain,
  operate, or reconstruct a building, work of art, or related
  furnishings used by the museum to further its exhibitions or
  operations and to promote county purposes 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 September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2796 was passed by the House on April
  27, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2796 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor