Relating to the establishment of the Historic Texas Freedmen Town Designation Program; authorizing a fee.

The text as introduced · 363 words

90R1773 LRM-D

By: West
S.B. No. 207

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Historic Texas Freedmen Town

Designation Program; authorizing a fee.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 442.034 to read as follows:

Sec. 442.034. HISTORIC TEXAS FREEDMEN TOWN DESIGNATION

PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Community" includes a community that no longer

exists.

(2) "Program" means the Historic Texas Freedmen Town

Designation Program established under this section.

(b) The commission shall establish a Historic Texas

Freedmen Town Designation Program to inform the public about the

communities in this state founded by freedmen during the

Reconstruction era.

(c) The commission by rule shall adopt criteria for

determining the eligibility of a community for a designation under

the program.

(d) The rules under Subsection (c) must require an applicant

for a designation to:

(1) provide evidence that the community for which the

designation is sought was founded by at least one freed slave during

the Reconstruction era; and

(2) meet any other requirement established by the

commission.

(e) The commission shall develop an application form and

procedure for applying for a designation under the program. The

commission shall post the application on the commission's Internet

website. Any person may submit an application to the commission to

designate a community under the program.

(f) The commission:

(1) shall design a medallion that may be used to

identify communities that receive a designation under the program;

and

(2) may charge a fee for the issuance of a medallion to

a community in any reasonable amount set by the commission.

(g) The commission shall list all communities designated

under the program on the Texas Historic Sites Atlas, published on

the commission's Internet website.

(h) A community designated under the program is not a

historic site for purposes of Subchapter C.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Historical Commission shall adopt the rules

necessary to administer Section 442.034, Government Code, as added

by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.