By: Frank H.B. No. 3784
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas Commission for Boys and Men.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. (a) The legislature
finds that boys, male youth, and men increasingly experience
disparities in key indicators of well-being, including educational
achievement, workforce participation, economic prosperity,
marriage, father involvement, substance abuse, incarceration,
suicide, and deaths of despair.
(b) The legislature finds that men who embrace their roles
as husbands, fathers, workers, providers, and community leaders are
essential to a strong, healthy Texas.
(c) The legislature finds that the loss of positive manhood
negatively impacts the citizens, culture, and prosperity of this
state.
(d) The legislature finds that it is necessary to establish
a commission to promote the well-being of the boys, male youth, and
men of this state and revitalize a culture that embraces and values
traditional, positive manhood.
SECTION 2. THE TEXAS COMMISSION FOR BOYS AND MEN. (a) A
commission is created to promote the success and well-being of
boys, male youth, and men in this state.
(b) The commission shall conduct a systematic study of the
conditions and issues affecting boys, male youth, and men in this
state. The study shall:
(1) Identify and define the specific needs of boys,
male youth, and men;
(2) Assess issues impacting the well-being of boys,
male youth, and men in the areas of:
(A) marriage;
(B) family stability;
(C) fatherhood and father involvement;
(D) school performance in all grade levels and
postsecondary education;
(E) workforce participation;
(F) wages, income, and poverty;
(G) physical and mental health;
(H) involvement with the criminal justice
system;
(I) substance use and abuse;
(J) violence; and
(K) death rates;
(3) evaluate the laws and regulations of this state
and identify those that negatively impact the ability of boys, male
youth, and men to achieve prosperity and realize their full
potential; and
(4) make recommendations for alleviating conditions
identified and improving outcomes in the areas described in
subsection (b)(2), including changes to the laws, policies, and
programs of this state.
(c) The commission is composed of eleven members appointed
as follows:
(1) five members appointed by the governor;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant
governor;
(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives.
(d) Commission members should have background and
demonstrated expertise in any of the following areas:
(1) economics;
(2) education;
(3) criminal justice;
(4) marriage and family therapy;
(5) fatherhood initiatives;
(6) promoting traditional, positive manhood;
(7) treatment of substance use disorders;
(8) healthcare; and
(9) mental health.
(e) The governor shall designate one member of the
commission to serve as the presiding officer of the commission.
(f) The commission may request and receive information,
assistance, and data from any state agency or department or any
political subdivision of this state.
(g) A member of the commission is not entitled to
compensation or reimbursement of expenses.
(h) Not later than November 1, 2026, the commission shall
publish the study required by subsection (b) and make
recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker
of the house of representatives for policies, programs, and
strategies for promoting the well-being and prosperity of boys,
male youth, and men in this state and advancing a culture that
values traditional, positive manhood. The commission shall include
in its recommendations specific statutes or regulations that the
commission recommends enacting, repealing, or amending.
SECTION 3. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. Not later than the 60th
day after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives shall appoint the members of the commission created
under this Act.
SECTION 4. ABOLITION OF COMMISSION. The commission is
abolished and this Act expires December 31, 2026.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2025.