83R10463 CJC-D
By: Branch H.B. No. 2036
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a commission to prepare for the
celebration of the state's bicentennial.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the
Texas 2036 Commission.
SECTION 2. COMMISSION. (a) The Texas 2036 Commission is
created.
(b) The commission is composed of 12 members. The executive
director of the Texas Historical Commission, the president general
of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the chair of the
board of directors of the State Fair of Texas are members of the
commission. The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker
of the house of representatives shall each appoint one member to the
commission. The county judges of Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Harris,
Tarrant, and Travis Counties shall each appoint one member to the
commission.
(c) Appointed members of the commission serve for two years
and may be reappointed.
(d) Appointments to the commission shall be made without
regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
national origin of the appointee.
(e) A vacancy in an appointed office of the commission shall
be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
SECTION 3. OFFICERS. The commission shall elect one of its
members to serve as chair for a term of two years. The chair is
entitled to vote on all matters before the commission.
SECTION 4. COMPENSATION. A member of the commission serves
without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual
and necessary expenses incurred in performing functions as a member
of the commission, subject to any applicable limitation on
reimbursement provided by the General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 5. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet at the call
of the chair and as provided by commission rule.
SECTION 6. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a) The
commission may adopt rules as necessary for its procedures.
(b) The commission shall plan and coordinate state and local
activities related to the celebration of the state's bicentennial.
(c) The commission may encourage individuals, private
organizations, and local governmental bodies to organize
appropriate activities and may gather and disseminate information
to the public relating to those activities.
(d) The commission may solicit and accept gifts and grants
from any source to be used by the commission in performing its
functions under this Act.
SECTION 7. COMMISSION REPORTS. (a) Before each regular
session of the legislature, the commission shall report to the
legislature on its activities during the preceding two-year period.
The report must include an accounting, verified by a certified
public accountant, of the money raised and spent by the commission
during the period covered by the report.
(b) As soon after March 2, 2036, as the commission
determines that it has completed its work and has satisfied its
financial obligations, but not later than December 31, 2036, the
commission shall file with the legislature and the secretary of
state a final report verified by a certified public accountant that
shows:
(1) the total amount of contributions received by the
commission during the commission's existence;
(2) the total amount of expenditures made by the
commission; and
(3) the total amount of money remaining in the
commission's possession.
(c) On the date on which the commission files its final
report, the commission shall deliver to the comptroller of public
accounts all unexpended and unobligated money that the commission
possesses. The comptroller shall deposit the money to the credit of
the general revenue fund.
SECTION 8. EXPIRATION. This Act expires and the commission
is abolished January 1, 2037.
SECTION 9. INITIAL APPOINTMENTS. The governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the appropriate county judges shall make the appointments
required by Section 2 of this Act not later than November 1, 2013.
SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2013.