Frank Bill Creates 11-Member Commission To Study Boys And Men

The text as introduced · 684 words

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.