Texas Freedman’s Bureau Bill Creates A Five-Commissioner Agency

The text as introduced · 672 words

89R16187 LRM-D

By: Miles
S.B. No. 2918

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Texas Freedman's Bureau.

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

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

by adding Chapter 473 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 473. TEXAS FREEDMAN'S BUREAU

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 473.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Bureau" means the Texas Freedman's Bureau

established under this chapter.

(2) "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the Texas

Freedman's Bureau.

(3) "Freedman" means an individual who was a freed

slave, under the Freedman's Bureau Act of 1865, from the period of

1861 to 1868 as identified by Congress.

Sec. 473.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF BUREAU. The Texas

Freedman's Bureau is established to assist the residents of this

state in determining their ancestry and heritage, provide

assistance to residents who are certified descendants of freedmen,

and promote the use of the term "freedmen" in demographic data

collected in this state.

Sec. 473.003. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The bureau is

subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in

existence as provided by that chapter, the bureau is abolished and

this chapter expires September 1, 2035.

SUBCHAPTER B. BUREAU

Sec. 473.101. COMPOSITION; TERMS; COMPENSATION. (a) The

bureau is composed of five commissioners appointed by the governor.

In making the appointments, the governor shall consider candidates

suggested by the Texas Volunteer Council on Freedmen Affairs.

(b) The commissioners serve two-year terms.

(c) A commissioner serves without compensation but is

entitled to reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred by

the commissioner while conducting the business of the bureau as

provided by the General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 473.102. DIRECTOR; EMPLOYEES. The bureau shall employ

a director for each bureau office and other employees necessary to

administer this chapter.

Sec. 473.103. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. (a) The bureau

is administratively attached to the Health and Human Services

Commission.

(b) The Health and Human Services Commission, using

existing resources, shall provide the administrative support and

personnel necessary for the bureau to implement this chapter.

Sec. 473.104. OFFICES. The bureau shall maintain an office

within facilities of the Health and Human Services Commission and

other state agencies, as appropriate, in the following counties:

(1) Bexar County;

(2) Dallas County;

(3) Harris County; and

(4) Travis County.

SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES

Sec. 473.201. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The bureau shall:

(1) establish and maintain a database to collect

demographic data for the purpose of assisting residents of this

state in establishing ancestral ties with freedmen;

(2) provide a freedmen identification card to each

resident who establishes ancestral ties with a freedman;

(3) assist residents who are descendants of freedmen

with obtaining reparations, including by providing legal

assistance with filing claims for reparations; and

(4) promote the use of the term "freedmen" for

descendants of freed slaves in all demographic data related to

ethnicity, nationality, or race collected by a state agency or

political subdivision.

Sec. 473.202. STRATEGIC PLAN; COLLABORATION. (a) The

bureau, in collaboration with other state agencies, state

officials, and nonprofit organizations, shall create a strategic

plan for implementing this chapter.

(b) The strategic plan must identify:

(1) the locations for the bureau offices;

(2) the resources the bureau will operate and

maintain;

(3) the bureau's plan to assist descendants of

freedmen with obtaining reparations; and

(4) the assistance required from other state agencies

and state officials to implement this chapter.

(c) The comptroller, attorney general, Department of Public

Safety, Parks and Wildlife Department, and other appropriate state

agencies and state officials shall assist the bureau as necessary

to implement this chapter and develop the strategic plan.

Sec. 473.203. RULES. The bureau and executive commissioner

of the Health and Human Services Commission may adopt the rules

necessary to implement this chapter.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the governor shall appoint the commissioners to the

Texas Freedman's Bureau as required by Chapter 473, Government

Code, as added by this Act.

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