84R630 MK-D
By: Alvarado, Lucio III H.B. No. 1543
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Advisory Council on Hispanic
Affairs in the office of the governor.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 470 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 470. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISPANIC AFFAIRS
Sec. 470.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Council" means the Advisory Council on Hispanic
Affairs.
(2) "State agency" includes an institution of higher
education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
Sec. 470.002. ESTABLISHMENT. The Advisory Council on
Hispanic Affairs is established in the office of the governor to
advise the office on furthering the economic, social, legal, and
political contributions and equality of the Hispanic population of
this state.
Sec. 470.003. COMPOSITION; TERMS. (a) The council is
composed of nine members appointed as follows:
(1) one ex officio member of the legislature appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2) one ex officio member of the legislature appointed
by the lieutenant governor; and
(3) seven members appointed by the governor.
(b) Members appointed by the speaker of the house and the
lieutenant governor serve two-year terms. Members appointed by the
governor serve four-year staggered terms, with either three or four
members' terms expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(c) In making appointments to the council, the appointing
officials shall attempt to achieve geographic representation of the
Hispanic population from all areas of the state.
(d) The governor shall designate the chair and vice chair of
the council from among the members of the council.
Sec. 470.004. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
quarterly each fiscal year. The council may hold meetings by
conference call.
Sec. 470.005. COMPENSATION. A member of the council is not
entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses incurred in
performing council duties.
Sec. 470.006. DUTIES. The council shall:
(1) monitor existing programs and legislation
designed to meet the needs of the Hispanic population;
(2) serve as a liaison between the Hispanic community
and the office of the governor and other governmental entities;
(3) facilitate meetings with the Hispanic Caucus of
the senate, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the house of
representatives, and the office of the governor to address the
legislative needs of the Hispanic population;
(4) assist the secretary of state in inviting public
and business leaders from Spanish-speaking countries to the state;
(5) recommend Hispanics to serve on appointed state
boards and commissions;
(6) work with the state demographer to assess the
demographic indicators and milestones of the Hispanic population;
(7) collaborate with business organizations,
stakeholders, and the Texas Workforce Commission to review state
and local policies that affect business creation and expansion in
order to develop policy recommendations for:
(A) streamlining or eliminating unnecessary
barriers to business creation, retention, and expansion in order to
develop greater entrepreneurship opportunities that will benefit
the Hispanic population and Hispanic-owned businesses in high-need
areas;
(B) creating a better business climate to
increase job creation, retention, and expansion opportunities for
small and Hispanic-owned businesses;
(C) assisting in revitalizing the industrial,
manufacturing, and high-technology sectors of the state's economy
to better address the needs of the Hispanic workforce; and
(D) strengthening employment opportunities to
more effectively increase participation of Hispanics in
well-paying jobs and lower the unemployment rate within the
Hispanic population;
(8) analyze the employment policies and practices of
employers in the public and private sectors in order to develop
recommendations on improving equal opportunity and treatment for
the Hispanic population and other minorities in employment;
(9) evaluate the development of methods and
initiatives to assure fuller employment options and greater
employment opportunities for Hispanics;
(10) work with the education community and the private
sector to develop appropriate recommendations and initiatives
relating to the following goals:
(A) retaining Hispanic students in public
schools by decreasing the dropout rate;
(B) closing the education achievement gap;
(C) furthering the accomplishments of Hispanics
enrolled in institutions of higher education;
(D) increasing work-study, mentorship, and
financial assistance for Hispanic students;
(E) informing Hispanics about nontraditional
education and employment opportunities; and
(F) evaluating programs designed to provide
equal educational opportunities to the Hispanic population, as
mandated by state and federal law;
(11) review licensing and regulation requirements in
the state in order to:
(A) determine the effect of those requirements on
the Hispanic population's ability to enter into chosen occupations
and to compete in the free market; and
(B) develop recommendations to eliminate
burdensome licensing requirements that negatively affect job
growth and creation within the Hispanic community and other
constituencies;
(12) work with health and medical experts in the
private sector and at institutions of higher education to identify
pressing fundamental health concerns of the Hispanic population;
(13) address equal treatment of the Hispanic
population in the educational, judicial, and health systems by:
(A) analyzing the application to the Hispanic
population of the laws of this state that govern those systems;
(B) monitoring the implementation of laws that
affect the legal rights and duties of the Hispanic population; and
(C) educating members of the Hispanic population
about their legal rights and duties; and
(14) study and research any other related matter of
importance to the council or the governor.
Sec. 470.007. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The council shall
submit a report of the council's recommendations to the governor,
lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year.
(b) The council shall include in the report recommendations
about:
(1) the status and funding of state programs designed
to address the needs of the Hispanic population; and
(2) reforms, policies, and statutory changes to
further the economic, social, legal, and political contributions of
Hispanics in the state.
Sec. 470.008. EXEMPTION. Chapter 2110 does not apply to the
council.
Sec. 470.009. ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES. State agencies
and political subdivisions of this state shall cooperate with the
council to the greatest extent practicable to fully implement the
council's statutory duties.
SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2015, the speaker of
the house of representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the
governor shall appoint the members of the Advisory Council on
Hispanic Affairs established by Chapter 470, Government Code, as
added by this Act. In appointing the initial members of the
council, the governor shall appoint three persons to terms expiring
February 1, 2017, and four to terms expiring February 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. 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, 2015.