Craddick Announces Midland Legislation Print E-mail
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Today, Speaker Tom Craddick (R - Midland) announced legislation and state agency appropriations passed during the 80th session that benefit Midland and the Permian Basin region.

"In the areas of education, health care and tourism, Midland continues to grow," Speaker Craddick said. "All of these items passed during the 80th Legislature will help sustain our booming economy. I would like to thank Senator Kel Seliger and Representative David Swinford for their work on behalf of Midland and the Permian Basin."

Legislation:

Senate Bill 1463 - This bill allows the Commissioners Court of Midland County to collect up to a 1 percent tax for prices paid for hotel rooms in Midland County. Although hotel occupancy taxes are used to fund a variety of purposes, the revenue generated from this tax will be used specifically to promote tourism in the Midland area. The imposed taxes will also help cover operating costs of Midland County's multi-purpose facility known as The Horseshoe. This 100 acre complex is a tribute to Midland's ranching heritage, and it accommodates championship rodeos, music shows, sporting events and exhibits.

House Bill 3614 - Currently, the Midland County Hospital District holds elections in May of even numbered years. Other political subdivisions in Midland County, including cities, school districts and the junior college districts have their elections in November. Traditionally, these political subdivisions held joint elections. HB 3614 changes the districts' election date to the November uniform election date so all coincide.

House Bill 680 - The City of Midland wants to convey a small (.1 acre) portion of city-owned Haley Park to the adjoining Haley Museum, and in return the Haley museum would transfer a similarly sized small parcel of land to the City for the use in the Planetarium project. This would allow more room for parking on the city land. The bill is necessary to amend the Local Government Code to allow for the transfer of the city-owned land.

House Bill 679 - This bill validates the government acts and proceedings of the Downtown Midland Management District from June 19, 2005 relating to the purchase, sale or real property by the district. The last bill that validated the government acts and proceedings of the Downtown Midland Management District ended on June 18, 2005, and this bill would pick up from the subsequent day.

House Bill 4094 - The purpose of this bill is to create uniform court costs in Midland County for cases that have concurrent civil jurisdiction in both the local district courts and in the Midland County courts at law.

Appropriations:

  • Through the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, Beal Park is set to receive $1,000,000 in matching funds and the Sibley Nature Center will receive $500,000 in matching funds.
  • The Texas Tech Health Science Center will receive $1,000,000 for operating costs associated with the expansion of the Physicians Assistant (PA) program operated in conjunction with Midland College. It will also receive $5,000,000 for equipment related to the new OB-GYN and Internal Medicine facility being constructed with funds appropriated during the 79th Legislature as a joint project through Texas Tech Health Science Center and Midland Memorial Hospital.
  • Midland College will receive $200,000 to continue the expansion of the Bachelor of Applied Technology program.
  • University of Texas of the Permian Basin is set to receive $7,500,000 for facility and road enhancements to complete access to the new Performing Arts Center, $500,000 in operating costs for new Performing Arts Center, and $9,000,000 for instructional enhancements to be used primarily for recruitment and retention of new faculty and programs.
  • Through the Department of Criminal Justice, there will be a $240,000 increase in funding for the mental health deputy program for Ector and Midland Counties, bringing the total to $560,000 for the biennium, designed to promote the diversion of mentally ill individuals from incarceration and facilitate assessments for appropriate treatment.
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