By: Olcott H.B. No. 5500
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Commission on the Arts; the composition and
qualifications of its governing board, expenditures for certain
fine arts projects, and the distribution of grants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 444.003(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The commission is composed of nine members appointed by
the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.
(1) The members must represent a diverse cross-section
of the fields of the arts and be widely known for their professional
competence and experience in connection with the arts.
(2) At least two members must be residents of a county
with a population of less than 50,000.
(3) Appointments to the commission shall be made
without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age,
or national origin of the appointees.
SECTION 2. Section 444.023(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The commission may appoint consultants to the
commission. In appointing consultants, the commission shall
attempt to achieve representation from each geographic area of the
state [and from the various racial and ethnic groups present in the
state].
SECTION 3. Section 444.024(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) The commission by rule shall adopt equitable procedures
for the distribution of grants to recipients who reflect the
geographical[, cultural, and ethnic] diversity of the state's
population.
SECTION 4. Section 444.029(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) The commission shall place emphasis on works by living
Texas artists whenever feasible and, when consulting with the
governing body of a political subdivision, shall place emphasis on
works by artists who reside in or near the political subdivision.
Consideration shall be given to artists without regard to the race,
color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the
artists [of all ethnic origins].
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, 2025.