Reynolds Bill’s Transgender Task Force Gets One Job: A Report

The text as introduced · 577 words

89R5899 LRM-D

By: Reynolds
H.B. No. 1470

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a task force to study the legal and societal barriers to

equality for transgender persons.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the

transgender equality task force established by this Act.

(b) The task force is established to study the legal and

societal barriers to equality for transgender persons in this

state.

(c) The task force is composed of:

(1) 11 members appointed by the governor as follows:

(A) one representative of the Texas Department of

Banking;

(B) one representative of the Texas Department of

Criminal Justice;

(C) one representative of the Department of

Family and Protective Services;

(D) one representative of the Texas Department of

Insurance;

(E) one representative of the Department of State

Health Services;

(F) one representative of the Texas Education

Agency;

(G) one representative of the Health and Human

Services Commission;

(H) one representative of an institution of

higher education;

(I) one representative of the Texas Workforce

Commission civil rights division;

(J) one representative of the Texas Workforce

Commission division of workforce development; and

(K) one representative of a nonprofit

organization dedicated to civil rights;

(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor

as follows:

(A) a parent or guardian of a transgender person;

and

(B) an attorney who specializes in transgender

rights; and

(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house

of representatives as follows:

(A) a physician who specializes in transgender

health issues; and

(B) one transgender person.

(d) The task force shall hold its first meeting not later

than October 1, 2025, and shall elect a presiding officer from among

its membership. The task force shall hold subsequent meetings at

least quarterly at the call of the presiding officer.

(e) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for

service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement, as

provided by the General Appropriations Act, for actual and

necessary expenses incurred in performing task force duties. The

task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to pay for those

expenses.

(f) The Texas Workforce Commission civil rights division

shall provide administrative support services at the request of the

task force.

(g) The task force shall study the state actions necessary

to ensure equality and improve the lives of transgender persons,

with particular attention to the following areas:

(1) health care, including access to health care

providers who are trained in transgender medical issues;

(2) long-term care for transgender persons who are

chronically ill or of advanced age;

(3) education;

(4) higher education;

(5) housing, including homelessness prevention and

reduction;

(6) employment; and

(7) criminal justice, including the following:

(A) raising transgender awareness among law

enforcement through training; and

(B) facilitating the appropriate placement of

transgender persons in correctional facilities based on a person's

gender identity.

(h) A state agency shall cooperate with and assist the task

force in carrying out the duties of the task force.

(i) Not later than December 1, 2026, the task force shall

prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a written

report that summarizes the task force's findings under this section

and recommends solutions for advancing transgender equality and

improving the lives of transgender persons in this state.

(j) The task force is abolished and this Act expires

September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.