S.B. No. 667
AN ACT
relating to establishing a state historical marker program to honor
African Americans who served in the Texas Legislature during
Reconstruction.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Texas Black
Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 442.0061 to read as follows:
Sec. 442.0061. STATE HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM TO HONOR
AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATORS. (a) The commission shall establish
and administer a state historical marker program to honor African
Americans who served in the Texas Legislature between 1870 and
1875, during the 12th, 13th, or 14th Legislative Session.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commission
shall install a historical marker at or as near as practicable to
the grave of each former member of the Texas Legislature described
by Subsection (a) in consultation with the:
(1) county historical commission established under
Chapter 318, Local Government Code, for the county in which the
grave is located; and
(2) cemetery association or other entity that manages
the cemetery in which the grave is located.
(c) If the former member's place of burial is unknown or the
commission determines that placement of a historical marker at the
former member's place of burial is inappropriate, the commission,
in consultation with the county historical commission established
under Chapter 318, Local Government Code, for each county
represented by the former member, shall install a historical marker
at an appropriate place within the boundaries of the counties
represented by the former member.
(d) Historical markers installed under this section must:
(1) have the same form, dimensions, and illustrations
as a large Official Texas Historical Marker described by Section
442.006(c) except that the markers must also include the state seal
at the bottom of the markers; and
(2) include text that reads:
"FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES
IN 1865, IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1871 THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS WERE
ABLE TO UNIFORMLY REGISTER TO VOTE, FOLLOWING THE RATIFICATION OF
THE 15TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
"WHILE AFRICAN AMERICANS SERVED AS DELEGATES TO STATE
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS PRIOR TO 1870, THE FIRST AFRICAN
AMERICANS ELECTED TO SERVE IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE WERE ELECTED TO
THE 12TH LEGISLATURE, WHICH CONVENED IN PROVISIONAL SESSION ON
FEBRUARY 8, 1870.
"PRIOR TO THE END OF FEDERAL RECONSTRUCTION IN 1870, TWELVE
AFRICAN AMERICANS SERVED IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND
TWO SERVED IN THE TEXAS SENATE.
"THIS MARKER IS ERECTED IN HONOR OF:
"(FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, AND SURNAME OF THE FORMER
MEMBER) (THE CHAMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE IN WHICH THE FORMER
MEMBER SERVED AND THE LEGISLATURE DURING WHICH THE FORMER MEMBER
SERVED) (THE FORMER MEMBER'S DATE OF BIRTH OR "UNKNOWN," AS
APPLICABLE) (THE FORMER MEMBER'S DATE OF DEATH) (EACH COUNTY
REPRESENTED BY THE FORMER MEMBER)
"ERECTED BY THE 88TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE TEXAS
HISTORICAL COMMISSION AS AUTHORIZED BY (NUMBER OF THE BILL PASSED
BY THE 88TH LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE
HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM HONORING AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATORS)"
(e) The commission may seek assistance from other state and
local governmental entities in carrying out the commission's duties
under this section.
(f) The commission may seek and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from public or private sources, including seeking
available federal funds, to accomplish the purposes of this
section.
SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2025, the Texas
Historical Commission shall install the historical markers
required by Section 442.0061, Government Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 667 passed the Senate on
April 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 667 passed the House on
May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 6,
one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor