HBA-CMT, JEK H.B. 1059 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1059 By: Pitts State, Federal & International Relations 3/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas has more state symbols designated by the Legislature than any other state, which may lead to confusion as to what constitutes a state symbol or place designation. In addition, a completed list of symbols and place designations has not been certified by a centrally accepted process. House Bill 1059 provides that the legislature must specify an item's historical or cultural significance to the state before designating the item as a state symbol. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1059 amends the Government Code to provide that the legislature must specify an item's historical or cultural significance to the state before designating the item as a state symbol. The bill prohibits the legislature from designating as a state symbol a commercial product, an individual, an event, or a place. H.B. 1059 prohibits the legislature from assigning the same place designation to more than one event or location. The bill also prohibits the legislature from assigning more than one place designation to any municipality, county, or other location, but does not prohibit the legislature from assigning more than one place designation within a county. The bill provides that, before the legislature may assign a place designation, the legislature must be presented with information supporting the designation. The bill specifies that a place designation expires on the 10th anniversary of its designation and that the legislature is authorized to redesignate a place designation during or after the 10-year period. H.B. 1059 requires the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to prepare and make available to the public a complete list of every state symbol and place designation. The bill applies only to a state symbol or place designation that is made by the legislature by resolution and approved by each house of the legislature and does not affect the designation of a state symbol or a place made by statute. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.