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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission. |
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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 452 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 452. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COMMISSION |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 452.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission" |
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means the Religious Freedom Commission. |
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Sec. 452.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission is |
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established within the office of the governor. |
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(b) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the commission. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS |
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Sec. 452.051. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) The governor |
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shall appoint seven members to the commission. |
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(b) A member of the commission must be a resident of this |
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state. |
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(c) The commission must include members who: |
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(1) have demonstrated a significant interest in and |
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are knowledgeable about issues related to religious liberty; or |
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(2) have served prominently as leaders of or |
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spokespersons for organizations that serve members of religious |
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communities, including the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim |
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communities. |
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Sec. 452.052. TERMS. (a) Commission members serve |
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staggered six-year terms with the terms of approximately one-third |
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of the members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year. |
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(b) Commission members are eligible for reappointment to |
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another term or part of a term. |
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(c) The governor shall fill any vacancy in a position on the |
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commission for the unexpired portion of the term. |
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Sec. 452.053. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate a member of the commission as presiding officer of the |
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commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the |
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governor. |
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Sec. 452.054. COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. A member of the |
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commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to |
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reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while |
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transacting commission business, as provided by the General |
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Appropriations Act. |
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Sec. 452.055. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The commission shall |
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meet at least quarterly at the times and places in this state the |
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commission designates. |
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(b) Four members of the commission constitute a quorum for |
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transacting commission business. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES |
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Sec. 452.071. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. The commission shall: |
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(1) advance the right to freedom of religion within |
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this state, denounce violations of that right, and recommend |
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appropriate responses by the legislature to the violations; |
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(2) identify system-level challenges and solutions |
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relating to religious liberty for all faith communities; |
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(3) serve as a principal advisor to the governor |
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regarding matters affecting religious freedom within this state; |
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(4) make recommendations regarding: |
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(A) local and state policies that violate freedom |
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of religion or that fail to ensure the individual's right to |
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religious belief and practice; |
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(B) policies that advance the right to freedom of |
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religion in this state; and |
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(C) strategies to address and prevent |
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faith-related bias incidents; and |
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(5) engage in education, advocacy, and outreach |
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efforts to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of |
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religious liberty. |
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SUBCHAPTER D. SUPPORT AND FUNDING |
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Sec. 452.072. SUPPORT. The office of the governor shall |
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provide administrative support, including staff, to the |
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commission. |
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Sec. 452.073. FUNDING. (a) The commission may accept gifts |
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and grants from a public or private source on behalf of the |
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commission for the commission to use in performing the duties |
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assigned to the commission under this chapter. |
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(b) All legislative appropriations to support the functions |
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and activities of the commission shall be made as part of the office |
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of the governor's legislative appropriations request process and |
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disbursed to the commission. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the Religious |
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Freedom Commission as provided by Chapter 452, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act. To implement the staggering of terms of members |
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of the commission provided by Section 452.052, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, in making the first appointments to the |
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commission, the governor shall provide for two of the members to |
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serve terms expiring February 1, 2025, two of the members to serve |
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terms expiring February 1, 2027, and three of the members to serve |
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terms expiring February 1, 2029. Subsequent appointments shall be |
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for six-year terms, as provided by Section 452.052, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |