Olcott Arts Bill Strips Ethnic Diversity From Grants, Adds Small-County Seats

The text as introduced · 377 words

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.