Sec. 316.022.  MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES OPERATED BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.  (a)  The commissioners court of a county with a population of 2.2 million or more may enter into a contract with a nonprofit organization authorizing the nonprofit organization to:
(1)  manage and operate a museum, historical site, historical building, or similar building or site in the county;  and
(2)  charge and collect a fee from the general public for admission to the museum, historical site, historical building, or similar building or site if the nonprofit organization is not obligated to the county for capital improvements to the museum, historical site, historical building, or similar building or site.
(b)  The commissioners court by order shall set the admission fee authorized by the contract.
(c)  The funds generated by the admission fees are not required to be deposited in the county treasury.
(d)  The nonprofit organization may spend funds generated by the admission fees for the payment of costs associated with the administration, maintenance, security, or staffing necessary to operate the building or site as approved by the commissioners court and provided by the contract.  The funds may not be spent for purposes other than those associated with the building or site.
(e)  In this section, "nonprofit organization" means a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization described by Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3)), as amended.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 800, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 95, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.