The legislature finds that cultural and community facilities are needed and that this chapter serves a public purpose.
Sec. 337.002. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that: (1) the health, education, and general welfare of the people of this state require the development of new and expanded cultural and community facilities for the purpose of: (A) exhibition and promotion of and education about: (i) performing, dramatic, visual, and literary arts; (ii) culture and history of races, ethnic groups, and national heritage groups; and (iii) history, natural history, and science; (B) promotion of and education about health and physical fitness, public health and safety, conservation and preservation of the environment or natural resources, child care, adoption, children's services, substance abuse counseling, family counseling, and care of persons who are elderly or have disabilities; (C) administration of the provision and granting of charitable services and grants in accomplishment of the purposes described by Paragraph (B); (D) promotion of and education about activities devoted to general cultural improvement, including scouting programs and programs by which agencies seek to provide facilities for retreats in urban or rural settings; (E) support of agencies devoted to the eradication, elimination, or amelioration of one or more diseases or afflictions affecting health or improving the condition of individuals or groups within a community; and (F) provision of public health and safety and charitable services to communities in times of catastrophe or disaster; (2) the existence, development, and expansion of cultural facilities are essential to the continuing education, health, general welfare, and comfort of the citizens of this state; (3) the means and measures authorized and the assistance provided by this chapter are in the public interest and serve a public purpose in promoting the health, education, and general welfare of the people of this state by securing and maintaining cultural facilities and the resulting advancement of culture and civilization; (4) qualified cultural organizations in this state have invested substantial funds in useful and beneficial cultural facilities and have experienced difficulty in undertaking additional projects because of: (A) the partial inadequacy of their own funds or of funds potentially available from local subscription sources; and (B) limitations of local financial institutions in providing necessary financing for these facilities; (5) qualified nonprofit corporations in this state have invested substantial funds in useful and beneficial cultural facilities and have experienced difficulty in undertaking additional projects because of: (A) the inadequacy of their own funds or of funds potentially available from local subscription sources; and (B) limitations of local financial institutions in providing necessary financing for these facilities; and (6) the enactment of this chapter will: (A) secure for present and future generations the benefits and nurturance derived from these cultural facilities; and (B) enhance the public health and welfare of communities receiving the benefit of the cultural facilities. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 20.004(a), eff. September 1, 2017.