87R11738 TYPED
By: Creighton S.B. No. 1369
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Real Estate Research Center and the Texas Real
Estate Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 86.51, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 86.51. TEXAS REAL ESTATE RESEARCH CENTER. The Texas
Real Estate Research Center, [There] is established at Texas A&M
University [a Real Estate Research Center], hereinafter referred to
as the center. The operating budget, staffing, and activities of
the center shall be approved by the board of regents of The Texas
A&M University System.
SECTION 2. Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j),
(k), and (l), Section 86.52, Education Code, are amended to read as
follows and subsection (m), Section 86.52, Education Code, is added
to read as follows:
(c) [Except for the initial appointees, members] Members of
the advisory committee hold office for staggered terms of six
years, with the terms of three members expiring on January 31 of
each odd-numbered year. [In making the initial appointments, the
governor shall designate three members, including two
representatives of the real estate industry and one representative
of the general public, for terms expiring in 1973, three for terms
expiring in 1975, and three for terms expiring in 1977.] Any vacancy
shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of the
term. Each member shall serve until [his] their successor is
qualified.
(d) The chairman of the Texas Real Estate Commission, or a
member of the commission designated by [him] the chairman, shall
serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the advisory committee.
(e) The advisory committee shall elect a [presiding
officer] chairman and [an assistant presiding officer]
vice-chairman from its membership, and each [officer] person shall
serve for a term of one year.
(f) [The first meeting of the advisory committee shall be
called by the president of Texas A & M University or his designated
representative.] The advisory committee shall meet not less than
semiannually, and in addition on call of its chairman, or on
petition of any six of its members, or on call of the president of
Texas A & M University or his designated representative.
(h) The president of Texas A & M University or [his] their
designated representative shall submit to the advisory committee in
advance of each fiscal year a proposed budget for expenditures of
all funds provided for the center in a form that is related to the
proposed schedule of activities for the review and approval of the
advisory committee. The proposed budget approved by the advisory
committee shall be forwarded with the comments of the advisory
committee to the board of directors of The Texas A & M University
System prior to its action on the proposed budget, and the board of
directors of The Texas A & M University System shall not authorize
any expenditure that has not had the prior approval of the advisory
committee.
(i) The president of Texas A & M University or [his] their
designated representative shall submit to the advisory committee
for its review and approval a research agenda at the beginning of
each fiscal year and shall continuously inform the advisory
committee of changes in its substance and scheduling.
(j) Each member of the [board] advisory committee is
entitled to a per diem as set by [legislative appropriation] the
advisory committee for each day that the member engages in the
business of the [board] advisory committee. A member may not
receive any compensation for travel expenses, including expenses
for meals and lodging, other than transportation expenses. A
member is entitled to compensation for transportation expenses as
[prescribed] set by the [General Appropriations Act] the advisory
committee.
(k) Except as provided by subsection (l), [The] the advisory
committee is subject to Chapter 551, Government Code, Chapter 2001,
Government Code, and the provisions of Chapter 572, Government
Code.
(l) The advisory committee may meet by conference call or
virtually through third party internet applications as long as
members of the general public are able to participate in the meeting
and can participate in discussions not subject to an executive
session.
(m) The financial transactions of the center are subject to
audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321,
Government Code.
SECTION 3. Section 1101.054, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1101.054. OFFICIAL OATH. Not later than the 15th
calendar day after the date of appointment, each appointee must
take the constitutional oath of office.
SECTION 4. Subsection (a), Section 1101.154, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1101.154. ADDITIONAL FEE: TEXAS REAL ESTATE RESEARCH
CENTER. (a) The fee for the issuance or renewal of a:
(1) broker license is the amount of the fee set under
Section 1101.152 and an additional $70 annual fee;
(2) sales agent license is the amount of the fee set
under Section 1101.152 and an additional $20 annual fee; and
(3) certificate of registration is the amount of the
fee set under Section 1101.152 and an additional $20 annual fee.
SECTION 5. 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, 2021.