By: Meza, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 4056
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2021;
May 18, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
Resources & Economic Development; May 21, 2021, reported favorably
by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to
printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a committee to study the formation
of a Texas Bicentennial Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "committee" means the
committee established under Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 2. COMMITTEE. (a) The committee is composed of 77
members as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the governor who serves as
presiding officer of the committee;
(2) one member appointed jointly by the lieutenant
governor and the speaker of the house of representatives who serves
as vice presiding officer;
(3) two members appointed by each senator:
(A) both of whom must be residents of the
senator's district;
(B) one of whom must be male and the other female;
(C) one of whom must be:
(i) a member of a county historical
commission or local historical society in the senator's district
and recommended by the commission or society, if there is at least
one county historical commission or local historical society in the
district; or
(ii) otherwise recommended by a county
commissioners court in the senator's district as knowledgeable on
local history; and
(D) one of whom must be selected after soliciting
input from each county judge in the senator's district on the
proposed member;
(4) four members appointed by the chair of the Texas
Legislative Black Caucus in consultation with the members of the
caucus;
(5) four members appointed by the chair of the Mexican
American Legislative Caucus in consultation with the members of the
caucus;
(6) one member appointed by the commissioner of the
General Land Office to represent that office;
(7) one member appointed by the comptroller to
represent the comptroller's office;
(8) one member appointed by the executive director of
the Texas Historical Commission to represent that commission;
(9) one member appointed by the director and librarian
of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission; and
(10) one member appointed by the executive director of
the Texas Commission on the Arts to represent that commission.
(b) The committee must reflect the racial, ethnic, and
geographic diversity of this state.
(c) The committee shall meet at the call of the presiding
officer. Committee meetings may be held in person, by telephone, or
by other means of communication.
(d) The committee may establish subcommittees to assist the
committee in carrying out its duties under this Act.
(e) A member of the committee may not receive compensation
for service on the committee.
(f) The General Land Office and the Texas Historical
Commission shall provide administrative support services at the
request of the committee, including assisting in drafting and
compiling the report required by this Act.
(g) Committee meetings must be open to the public.
SECTION 3. STUDY; REPORT. (a) The committee shall study
the formation of a Texas Bicentennial Commission to plan this
state's celebration of the 2036 bicentennial, including:
(1) the composition of the commission, the manner of
appointing its members, and the total number of members; and
(2) the scope and duties of the commission.
(b) Not later than December 30, 2022, the committee shall
submit a written report to each member of the legislature with
recommendations on the areas of study described by Subsection (a)
of this section and any other recommendations the committee
considers appropriate.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The committee is abolished and this
Act expires January 1, 2023.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2021.
* * * * *