BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 667

By: West

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

One of the most important eras in American and Texas history, Reconstruction, lasted from the end of the Civil War in 1865 to 1877. Beginning with the 12th Legislative Session in 1870, the first African Americans were elected to the Texas Legislature. A total of fifty-two African American men served Texas as either a state legislator, a constitutional convention delegate, or both during the last half of the 19th century, many of whom served in the 12th, 13th, and 14th Legislative Sessions. Aside from a series of posters printed by the Texas Historical Commission and a small memorial in the Texas State Cemetery, no efforts have been undertaken to honor these important figures in Texas history in the counties they represented, due in part to a lack of information on many of these men. Recently, however, there has been a revolution in the digitization of historical newspapers, and more information has been discovered about these legislators. A notable example is J. Goldstein Dupree, an African American legislator who was assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan before completing his term in office. His death date was previously unknown, but thanks to the digitization of a German language newspaper from the 1870s, this information has now been discovered. Using the wealth of historical information provided from newspaper digitization, the time has come to properly honor these lawmakers. S.B. 667, the Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act, establishes a state historical marker program to honor the African American legislators who served during the 12th, 13th, or 14th Legislative Session.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 667 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Historical Commission to establish and administer a state historical marker program to honor African Americans who served in the Texas Legislature between 1870 and 1875, during the 12th, 13th, or 14th Legislative Session. The bill requires the commission to install a historical marker at or as near as practicable to the grave of each such former member of the Texas Legislature in consultation with the county historical commission for the county in which the grave is located and the cemetery association or other entity that manages the cemetery in which the grave is located. If the former member's place of burial is unknown or the commission determines that placement of a historical marker at the former member's place of burial is inappropriate, the commission, in consultation with the county historical commission for each county represented by the former member, must install a historical marker at an appropriate place within the boundaries of those counties. The commission must install the historical markers not later than January 1, 2025.

S.B. 667 requires the historical markers to have the same form, dimensions, and illustrations as a large Official Texas Historical Marker, except that the markers must also include the state seal at the bottom. The bill prescribes the text that must be included on the markers, including information identifying the honored former member and certain historical information regarding the ratification of the 15th Amendment and the first session in which African Americans served in the Texas Legislature. The bill authorizes the commission to seek assistance from other state and local governmental entities in carrying out the commission's duties and to seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public or private sources, including seeking available federal funds, to accomplish the purposes of the bill.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.