Cain Bill Builds A 23-Member Bicentennial Commission With Paid Staff

The text as introduced · 1,102 words

89R11851 MCK-F

By: Cain
H.B. No. 4405

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a commission to coordinate celebrations of the

bicentennial anniversary of Texas' independence.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended

by adding Chapter 452 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 452. TEXAS 2036 BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION

Sec. 452.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission"

means the Texas 2036 Bicentennial Commission.

Sec. 452.002. COMMISSION. (a) The Texas 2036 Bicentennial

Commission is composed of the following 23 members appointed as

follows:

(1) nine members of the public appointed by the

governor with the advice and consent of the senate;

(2) three senators appointed by the lieutenant

governor;

(3) three members of the house of representatives

appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(4) the following ex officio members:

(A) the executive head of the Texas Economic

Development and Tourism Office within the office of the governor;

(B) the executive director of the Texas

Historical Commission;

(C) the executive director of the Texas

Commission on the Arts;

(D) the director of the Texas Film Commission;

(E) the commissioner of education;

(F) the commissioner of higher education;

(G) the director of the travel information

division of the Texas Department of Transportation; and

(H) the director of the Institute of Texan

Cultures at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

(b) The public members appointed by the governor must

reflect the diverse geographic regions and population groups of

this state.

(c) Each member of the commission is a voting member. The

duties performed by an ex officio member of the commission

constitute additional duties of the underlying position that

qualifies the member for service on the commission.

(d) A member of the commission who is a senator or

representative vacates the member's position if the member ceases

to hold the underlying position that qualifies the member for

service on the commission.

(e) A public member shall serve until a successor is

appointed and qualified.

(f) A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be

filled for the unexpired term in the manner provided for the

original appointment.

Sec. 452.003. TERMS. Appointed members of the commission

serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of three members

appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the lieutenant

governor, and one member appointed by the speaker of the house of

representatives expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Sec. 452.004. PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) The governor shall

appoint one member of the commission to serve as presiding officer.

The presiding officer serves at the will of the governor.

(b) If the presiding officer is absent from a meeting or is

disabled, the members of the commission present at the meeting

shall elect a temporary presiding officer by majority vote.

Sec. 452.005. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The commission shall

meet at least quarterly and at other times at the call of the

presiding officer or as provided by commission rule.

(b) Chapter 551 applies to the commission.

(c) Thirteen members of the commission constitute a quorum.

Sec. 452.006. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A member

of the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the

commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and

necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties,

subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement provided by

the General Appropriations Act.

(b) A member appointed by the governor shall be reimbursed

from the commission's funds. A member appointed by the lieutenant

governor or speaker of the house of representatives shall be

reimbursed from the appropriate fund of the member's chamber of the

legislature. An ex officio member shall be reimbursed from the

funds of the entity from which the member serves.

Sec. 452.007. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; STAFF. (a) The

commission may employ an executive director to serve as the

executive head of the commission and perform its administrative

functions.

(b) The executive director may employ staff necessary to

administer the commission.

Sec. 452.008. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION. The

commission shall:

(1) encourage individuals, private organizations, and

local governmental bodies to organize activities celebrating the

bicentennial of this state's independence;

(2) assist individuals, private organizations, and

local governmental bodies that organize bicentennial activities to

coordinate the activities;

(3) gather and disseminate information to the public

about bicentennial activities conducted in the state;

(4) develop standards for bicentennial activities

organized by individuals, private organizations, and local

governmental bodies and sanction activities that comply with the

standards;

(5) invite national and international dignitaries to

attend and participate in bicentennial activities conducted in this

state;

(6) encourage persons living outside the state to

attend bicentennial activities occurring in the state;

(7) develop a logo to be used by the commission and

permit other persons to use the logo if the commission considers the

use appropriate; and

(8) sanction products the commission may sell,

including a commemorative calendar or flag, commemorating the

state's bicentennial.

Sec. 452.009. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2037, the

commission shall file a report with the governor and the

legislature containing information about the effects of the

bicentennial activities conducted in this state on the state's

economy.

Sec. 452.010. DONATIONS; GRANTS. The commission may

solicit and accept, on behalf of the state, gifts, grants, and

donations from any source to be used by the commission to perform

its duties.

Sec. 452.011. RULES. The commission may adopt rules

necessary to perform its functions.

Sec. 452.012. EXPIRATION. The commission is abolished and

this chapter expires September 1, 2037.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the

governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of

representatives shall appoint the initial members to the Texas 2036

Bicentennial Commission in accordance with Section 452.002,

Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 452.003, Government Code, as

added by this Act, in making the initial appointments to the Texas

2036 Bicentennial Commission under Subsection (a) of this section:

(1) the governor shall designate three members for

terms expiring January 31, 2027, three members for terms expiring

January 31, 2029, and three members for terms expiring January 31,

2031;

(2) the lieutenant governor shall designate one member

for a term expiring January 31, 2027, one member for a term expiring

January 31, 2029, and one member for a term expiring January 31,

2031; and

(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall

designate one member for a term expiring January 31, 2027, one

member for a term expiring January 31, 2029, and one member for a

term expiring January 31, 2031.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.