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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to study the legal and |
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societal barriers to equality for transgender persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the |
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transgender equality task force established by this Act. |
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(b) The task force is established to study the legal and |
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societal barriers to equality for transgender persons in this |
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state. |
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(c) The task force is composed of: |
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(1) 11 members appointed by the governor as follows: |
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(A) one representative of the Texas Department of |
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Banking; |
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(B) one representative of the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice; |
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(C) one representative of the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services; |
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(D) one representative of the Texas Department of |
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Insurance; |
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(E) one representative of the Department of State |
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Health Services; |
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(F) one representative of the Texas Education |
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Agency; |
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(G) one representative of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission; |
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(H) one representative of an institution of |
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higher education; |
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(I) one representative of the Texas Workforce |
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Commission civil rights division; |
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(J) one representative of the Texas Workforce |
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Commission division of workforce development; and |
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(K) one representative of a nonprofit |
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organization dedicated to civil rights; |
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(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor |
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as follows: |
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(A) a parent or guardian of a transgender person; |
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and |
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(B) an attorney who specializes in transgender |
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rights; and |
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(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives as follows: |
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(A) a physician who specializes in transgender |
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health issues; and |
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(B) one transgender person. |
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(d) The task force shall hold its first meeting not later |
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than October 1, 2023, and shall elect a presiding officer from among |
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its membership. The task force shall hold subsequent meetings at |
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least quarterly at the call of the presiding officer. |
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(e) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for |
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service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement, as |
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provided by the General Appropriations Act, for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing task force duties. The |
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task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to pay for those |
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expenses. |
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(f) The Texas Workforce Commission civil rights division |
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shall provide administrative support services at the request of the |
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task force. |
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(g) The task force shall study the state actions necessary |
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to ensure equality and improve the lives of transgender persons, |
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with particular attention to the following areas: |
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(1) health care, including access to health care |
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providers who are trained in transgender medical issues; |
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(2) long-term care for transgender persons who are |
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chronically ill or of advanced age; |
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(3) education; |
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(4) higher education; |
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(5) housing, including homelessness prevention and |
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reduction; |
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(6) employment; and |
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(7) criminal justice, including the following: |
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(A) raising transgender awareness among law |
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enforcement through training; and |
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(B) facilitating the appropriate placement of |
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transgender persons in correctional facilities based on a person's |
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gender identity. |
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(h) A state agency shall cooperate with and assist the task |
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force in carrying out the duties of the task force. |
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(i) Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a written |
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report that summarizes the task force's findings under this section |
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and recommends solutions for advancing transgender equality and |
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improving the lives of transgender persons in this state. |
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(j) The task force is abolished and this Act expires |
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September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |