Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2497 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.B. No. 2497
	1	+	By: Parker, et al. H.B. No. 2497
	2	+	(Senate Sponsor - Creighton, Schwertner)
	3	+	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2021;
	4	+	May 10, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on
	5	+	Education; May 24, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:
	6	+	Yeas 7, Nays 2; May 24, 2021, sent to printer.)
	7	+	Click here to see the committee vote
2	8
3	9
	10	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	11		AN ACT
5	12		relating to the establishment and duties of the Texas 1836 Project.
6	13		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
7	14		SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
8	15		by adding Chapter 451 to read as follows:
9	16		CHAPTER 451. TEXAS 1836 PROJECT
10	17		Sec. 451.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
11	18		(1) "1836 Project" means the advisory committee
12	19		established under this chapter.
13	20		(2) "Patriotic education" includes the:
14	21		(A) presentation of the history of this state's
15	22		founding and foundational principles;
16	23		(B) examination of how this state has grown
17	24		closer to those principles throughout its history; and
18	25		(C) explanation of why commitment to those
19	26		principles is beneficial and justified.
20	27		(3) "State agency" means a department, commission,
21	28		board, office, or other agency in the executive branch of state
22	29		government that is created by the constitution or a statute of this
23	30		state.
24	31		Sec. 451.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The 1836 Project is
25	32		established as an advisory committee to promote patriotic education
26	33		and increase awareness of the Texas values that continue to
27	34		stimulate boundless prosperity across this state.
28		-	(b) The 1836 Project is composed of nine members ~~reflective~~
29		-	~~of the diversity of the state. The~~ governor, lieutenant governor,
30		-	~~and speaker of the house of~~ representatives shall each appoint
31		-	~~three members. The appointees~~ may include persons in the private
32		-	~~sector with relevant experience~~ or subject matter expertise.
	35	+	(b) The 1836 Project is composed of nine members. The
	36	+	governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
	37	+	representatives shall each appoint three members. The appointees
	38	+	may include persons in the private sector with relevant experience
	39	+	or subject matter expertise.
33	40		(c) Members serve two-year terms and may not be removed
34	41		except for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.
35	42		(d) The governor shall appoint one member of the 1836
36	43		Project as the presiding officer.
37	44		(e) The presiding officer shall:
38	45		(1) convene regular meetings of the 1836 Project; and
39	46		(2) coordinate and direct the activities of the 1836
40	47		Project.
41	48		Sec. 451.003. DUTIES. (a) The 1836 Project shall:
42	49		(1) promote awareness among residents of this state of
43	50		the following as they relate to the history of prosperity and
44	51		democratic freedom in this state:
45	52		(A) Texas history, including the indigenous
46	53		peoples of this state, the Spanish and Mexican heritage of this
47		-	state, Tejanos, the African-American heritage of this state, the
48		-	Texas War for Independence, Juneteenth, annexation of Texas by the
49		-	United States, the Christian heritage of this state, and this
	54	+	state, Tejanos, the Texas War for Independence, annexation of Texas
	55	+	by the United States, the Christian heritage of this state, this
50	56		state's heritage of keeping and bearing firearms in defense of life
51		-	and liberty and for use in hunting;
	57	+	and liberty and for use in hunting, and Juneteenth;
52	58		(B) the founding documents of this state;
53	59		(C) the founders of this state;
54	60		(D) state civics; and
55	61		(E) the role of this state in passing and
56	62		reauthorizing the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.
57	63		Section 10101 et seq.), highlighting:
58	64		(i) President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing
59	65		of the act;
60	66		(ii) President George W. Bush's 25-year
61	67		extension of the act; and
62	68		(iii) Congresswoman Barbara Jordan's
63	69		successful efforts to broaden the act to include Spanish-speaking
64	70		communities;
65	71		(2) advise the governor on the core principles of the
66	72		founding of this state and how those principles further enrich the
67	73		lives of its residents;
68	74		(3) facilitate the development and implementation of
69	75		the Gubernatorial 1836 Award to recognize student knowledge of
70	76		Texas Independence and other items listed in Subdivisions
71	77		(1)(A)-(D);
72	78		(4) advise state agencies with regard to their efforts
73	79		to ensure patriotic education is provided to the public at state
74	80		parks, battlefields, monuments, museums, installations, landmarks,
75	81		cemeteries, and other places important to the Texas War for
76	82		Independence and founding of this state, as appropriate and
77	83		consistent with applicable law; and
78	84		(5) facilitate, advise on, and promote other
79	85		activities to support public knowledge of and patriotic education
80	86		on the Texas War for Independence and founding of this state, as
81	87		appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
82	88		(b) In carrying out its duties under Subsection (a)(2), the
83	89		project may solicit statements and contributions from intellectual
84	90		and cultural figures.
85	91		Sec. 451.004. FUNDING; COMPENSATION. (a) The Texas
86	92		Education Agency shall provide funding and administrative support
87	93		for the 1836 Project, including for the pamphlets described by
88	94		Section 451.005, to the extent funds are available for those
89	95		purposes.
90	96		(b) A member of the 1836 Project is not entitled to
91	97		compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the travel
92	98		expenses incurred by the member while transacting project business,
93	99		as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
94	100		Sec. 451.005. PAMPHLET. Not later than September 1, 2022,
95	101		the 1836 Project shall provide a pamphlet to the Texas Department of
96	102		Public Safety that explains the significance of policy decisions
97	103		made by this state that promote liberty and freedom for businesses
98	104		and families. The contents must include:
99	105		(1) an overview of Texas history and civics;
100	106		(2) the legacy of economic prosperity in this state;
101	107		and
102	108		(3) the abundant opportunities for businesses and
103	109		families in this state.
104	110		Sec. 451.006. REPORT. (a) Not later than September 1,
105	111		2022, the 1836 Project shall prepare and produce a written report
106	112		that includes:
107	113		(1) a description of the activities of the project;
108	114		(2) the findings and recommendations of the project;
109	115		(3) a plan that identifies the best method of carrying
110	116		out the duties under Sections 451.003(a)(1), (4), and (5);
111	117		(4) any proposals for legislation; and
112	118		(5) any other matter the project considers
113	119		appropriate.
114	120		(b) Subsequent to the report required under Subsection (a),
115	121		the 1836 Project may prepare and produce additional reports the
116	122		project considers appropriate.
117	123		(c) The Texas Education Agency shall make a report described
118	124		by this section available to the public on the agency's Internet
119	125		website.
120	126		(d) To the extent existing agency resources are available
121	127		for this purpose, the Texas Education Agency may provide to the 1836
122	128		Project any agency resources necessary to prepare or produce a
123	129		report described by this section.
124	130		Sec. 451.007. ABOLITION; EXPIRATION. The 1836 Project is
125	131		abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2036.
126	132		SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
127	133		is amended by adding Section 521.013 to read as follows:
128	134		Sec. 521.013. TEXAS 1836 PROJECT PAMPHLET. (a) The
129	135		department shall provide the pamphlet described by Section 451.005,
130	136		Government Code, to persons who receive a driver's license:
131	137		(1) after applying under Section 521.144; or
132	138		(2) with an expiration provided by Section
133	139		521.271(a-2) or (a-3).
134	140		(b) The department shall make the pamphlet described by
135	141		Section 451.005, Government Code, available to the public on the
136	142		department's Internet website.
137	143		SECTION 3. As soon as possible after the effective date of
138	144		this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
139	145		the house of representatives shall make the appointments to the
140	146		1836 Project under Section 451.002, Government Code, as added by
141	147		this Act.
142		-	SECTION 4. The Texas Education Agency and the Department of
143		-	Public Safety of the State of Texas are required to implement a
144		-	provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
145		-	specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
146		-	appropriate money specifically for that purpose, those agencies
147		-	may, but are not required to, implement a provision of this Act
148		-	using other appropriations available for that purpose.
149		-	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
150		-	______________________________ ______________________________
151		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
152		-	I certify that H.B. No. 2497 was passed by the House on May 5,
153		-	2021, by the following vote: Yeas 124, Nays 19, 1 present, not
154		-	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
155		-	No. 2497 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 13,
156		-	1 present, not voting.
157		-	______________________________
158		-	Chief Clerk of the House
159		-	I certify that H.B. No. 2497 was passed by the Senate, with
160		-	amendments, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays
161		-	10.
162		-	______________________________
163		-	Secretary of the Senate
164		-	APPROVED: __________________
165		-	Date
166		-	__________________
167		-	Governor
	148	+	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
	149	+	* * * * *