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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and duties of the Texas 1836 Project. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 451 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 451. TEXAS 1836 PROJECT |
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Sec. 451.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "1836 Project" means the advisory committee |
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established under this chapter. |
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(2) "Patriotic education" includes the: |
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(A) presentation of the history of this state's |
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founding and foundational principles; |
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(B) examination of how this state has grown |
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closer to those principles throughout its history; and |
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(C) explanation of why commitment to those |
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principles is beneficial and justified. |
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(3) "State agency" means a department, commission, |
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board, office, or other agency in the executive branch of state |
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government that is created by the constitution or a statute of this |
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state. |
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Sec. 451.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The 1836 Project is |
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established as an advisory committee to promote patriotic education |
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and increase awareness of the Texas values that continue to |
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stimulate boundless prosperity across this state. |
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(b) The 1836 Project is composed of nine members. The |
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governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall each appoint three members. The appointees |
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may include persons in the private sector with relevant experience |
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or subject matter expertise. |
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(c) Members serve two-year terms and may not be removed |
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except for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. |
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(d) The governor shall appoint one member of the 1836 |
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Project as the presiding officer. |
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(e) The presiding officer shall: |
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(1) convene regular meetings of the 1836 Project; and |
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(2) coordinate and direct the activities of the 1836 |
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Project. |
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Sec. 451.003. DUTIES. (a) The 1836 Project shall: |
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(1) promote awareness among residents of this state of |
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the following as they relate to the history of prosperity and |
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democratic freedom in this state: |
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(A) Texas history, including the indigenous |
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peoples of this state, the Spanish and Mexican heritage of this |
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state, Tejanos, the Texas War for Independence, annexation of Texas |
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by the United States, the Christian heritage of this state, this |
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state's heritage of keeping and bearing firearms in defense of life |
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and liberty and for use in hunting, and Juneteenth; |
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(B) the founding documents of this state; |
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(C) the founders of this state; |
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(D) state civics; and |
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(E) the role of this state in passing and |
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reauthorizing the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. |
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Section 10101 et seq.), highlighting: |
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(i) President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing |
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of the act; |
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(ii) President George W. Bush's 25-year |
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extension of the act; and |
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(iii) Congresswoman Barbara Jordan's |
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successful efforts to broaden the act to include Spanish-speaking |
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communities; |
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(2) advise the governor on the core principles of the |
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founding of this state and how those principles further enrich the |
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lives of its residents; |
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(3) facilitate the development and implementation of |
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the Gubernatorial 1836 Award to recognize student knowledge of |
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Texas Independence and other items listed in Subdivisions |
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(1)(A)-(D); |
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(4) advise state agencies with regard to their efforts |
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to ensure patriotic education is provided to the public at state |
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parks, battlefields, monuments, museums, installations, landmarks, |
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cemeteries, and other places important to the Texas War for |
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Independence and founding of this state, as appropriate and |
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consistent with applicable law; and |
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(5) facilitate, advise on, and promote other |
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activities to support public knowledge of and patriotic education |
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on the Texas War for Independence and founding of this state, as |
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appropriate and consistent with applicable law. |
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(b) In carrying out its duties under Subsection (a)(2), the |
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project may solicit statements and contributions from intellectual |
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and cultural figures. |
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Sec. 451.004. FUNDING; COMPENSATION. (a) The Texas |
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Education Agency shall provide funding and administrative support |
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for the 1836 Project, including for the pamphlets described by |
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Section 451.005, to the extent funds are available for those |
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purposes. |
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(b) A member of the 1836 Project is not entitled to |
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compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the travel |
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expenses incurred by the member while transacting project business, |
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as provided by the General Appropriations Act. |
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Sec. 451.005. PAMPHLET. Not later than September 1, 2022, |
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the 1836 Project shall provide a pamphlet to the Texas Department of |
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Public Safety that explains the significance of policy decisions |
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made by this state that promote liberty and freedom for businesses |
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and families. The contents must include: |
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(1) an overview of Texas history and civics; |
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(2) the legacy of economic prosperity in this state; |
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and |
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(3) the abundant opportunities for businesses and |
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families in this state. |
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Sec. 451.006. REPORT. (a) Not later than September 1, |
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2022, the 1836 Project shall prepare and produce a written report |
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that includes: |
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(1) a description of the activities of the project; |
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(2) the findings and recommendations of the project; |
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(3) a plan that identifies the best method of carrying |
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out the duties under Sections 451.003(a)(1), (4), and (5); |
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(4) any proposals for legislation; and |
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(5) any other matter the project considers |
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appropriate. |
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(b) Subsequent to the report required under Subsection (a), |
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the 1836 Project may prepare and produce additional reports the |
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project considers appropriate. |
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(c) The Texas Education Agency shall make a report described |
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by this section available to the public on the agency's Internet |
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website. |
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(d) To the extent existing agency resources are available |
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for this purpose, the Texas Education Agency may provide to the 1836 |
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Project any agency resources necessary to prepare or produce a |
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report described by this section. |
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Sec. 451.007. ABOLITION; EXPIRATION. The 1836 Project is |
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abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2036. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.013. TEXAS 1836 PROJECT PAMPHLET. (a) The |
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department shall provide the pamphlet described by Section 451.005, |
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Government Code, to persons who receive a driver's license: |
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(1) after applying under Section 521.144; or |
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(2) with an expiration provided by Section |
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521.271(a-2) or (a-3). |
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(b) The department shall make the pamphlet described by |
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Section 451.005, Government Code, available to the public on the |
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department's Internet website. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as possible after the effective date of |
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this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of |
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the house of representatives shall make the appointments to the |
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1836 Project under Section 451.002, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |