| 1 | 1 | | 87R1084 SRA-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Miles S.B. No. 173 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the creation of the African American Family Commission. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 401, Government Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Section 401.106 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 401.106. AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY COMMISSION. (a) In |
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| 12 | 12 | | this section, "commission" means the African American Family |
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| 13 | 13 | | Commission established under this section. |
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| 14 | 14 | | (b) The governor shall establish the African American |
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| 15 | 15 | | Family Commission in the office of the governor to improve and |
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| 16 | 16 | | expand existing policies, services, programs, and opportunities |
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| 17 | 17 | | for African American families. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (c) The commission shall: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) guide the efforts of and collaborate with state |
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| 20 | 20 | | agencies and the office of the governor in matters relating to |
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| 21 | 21 | | African American families; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) monitor and comment on existing and proposed |
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| 23 | 23 | | legislation and programs designed to address the needs of African |
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| 24 | 24 | | Americans in this state; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (3) assist state agencies in developing programs, |
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| 26 | 26 | | services, public policies, and research strategies that will expand |
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| 27 | 27 | | and enhance the social and economic well-being of African American |
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| 28 | 28 | | children and families; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (4) facilitate the participation and representation |
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| 30 | 30 | | of African Americans in the development, implementation, and |
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| 31 | 31 | | planning of policies, programs, and services; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | (5) promote research efforts to document the impact of |
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| 33 | 33 | | policies and programs on African American families. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (d) The commission is composed of seven members appointed by |
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| 35 | 35 | | the governor. The governor shall appoint members that reflect the |
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| 36 | 36 | | various regions of the state to ensure that the needs of African |
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| 37 | 37 | | American families and children throughout this state are |
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| 38 | 38 | | represented. Members serve staggered three-year terms, with the |
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| 39 | 39 | | terms of two or three members, as appropriate, expiring each year. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (e) The commission shall annually report on the |
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| 41 | 41 | | commission's progress toward the objectives described by |
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| 42 | 42 | | Subsection (c) to the governor and the members of the legislature. |
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| 43 | 43 | | (f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, donations, |
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| 44 | 44 | | and grants of money from any public or private source to assist the |
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| 45 | 45 | | commission in fulfilling its duties under this section. |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 2. In making the initial appointments to the |
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| 47 | 47 | | commission established under this Act, the governor shall appoint: |
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| 48 | 48 | | (1) two members to terms expiring February 1, 2022; |
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| 49 | 49 | | (2) two members to terms expiring February 1, 2023; |
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| 50 | 50 | | and |
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| 51 | 51 | | (3) three members to terms expiring February 1, 2024. |
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| 52 | 52 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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