By: Hughes S.B. No. 1985
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the reestablishment of the 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 reestablished under Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 2. COMMITTEE. (a) The committee established by
Chapter 734 (H.B. 4056), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2021, is reestablished to continue carrying out the
committee's duties. A person who served on the committee
established by Chapter 734 may be reappointed to the committee
under Subsection (b) of this section by the relevant appointing
authority.
(b) The committee is composed of 18 members as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the governor who serves as
presiding officer;
(2) one member appointed jointly by the lieutenant
governor and the speaker of the house of representatives who serves
as assistant presiding officer;
(3) five senators appointed by the lieutenant
governor;
(4) five members of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
(5) six nonvoting members appointed by the governor
who are residents of this state with at least one member appointed
from each state senatorial district that contains one of the
following:
(A) Fair Park;
(B) the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic
Site;
(C) the Alamo;
(D) the State Capitol; or
(E) Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic
Site.
(c) The committee must reflect the racial, ethnic, and
geographic diversity of this state.
(d) 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.
(e) The committee may establish subcommittees to assist the
committee in carrying out its duties under this Act.
(f) A member of the committee may not receive compensation
for service on the committee.
(g) 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.
(h) 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 September 30, 2024, 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. The committee shall submit a second report
to each member of the legislature not later than September 30, 2026,
covering the committee's activities performed after the date the
first report is submitted.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The committee is abolished and this
Act expires January 1, 2027.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2023.