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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a state historical marker program to honor |
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African Americans who served in the Texas Legislature during |
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Reconstruction. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Texas Black |
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Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 442.0061 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 442.0061. STATE HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM TO HONOR |
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AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATORS. (a) The commission shall establish |
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and administer a state historical marker program to honor African |
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Americans who served in the Texas Legislature between 1870 and |
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1875, during the 12th, 13th, or 14th Legislative Session. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commission |
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shall install a historical marker at or as near as practicable to |
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the grave of each former member of the Texas Legislature described |
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by Subsection (a) in consultation with the: |
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(1) county historical commission established under |
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Chapter 318, Local Government Code, for the county in which the |
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grave is located; and |
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(2) cemetery association or other entity that manages |
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the cemetery in which the grave is located. |
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(c) If the former member's place of burial is unknown or the |
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commission determines that placement of a historical marker at the |
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former member's place of burial is inappropriate, the commission, |
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in consultation with the county historical commission established |
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under Chapter 318, Local Government Code, for each county |
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represented by the former member, shall install a historical marker |
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at an appropriate place within the boundaries of the counties |
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represented by the former member. |
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(d) Historical markers installed under this section must: |
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(1) have the same form, dimensions, and illustrations |
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as a large Official Texas Historical Marker described by Section |
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442.006(c) except that the markers must also include the state seal |
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at the bottom of the markers; and |
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(2) include text that reads: |
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"FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES |
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IN 1865, IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1871 THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS WERE |
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ABLE TO UNIFORMLY REGISTER TO VOTE, FOLLOWING THE RATIFICATION OF |
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THE 15TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. |
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"WHILE AFRICAN AMERICANS SERVED AS DELEGATES TO STATE |
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CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS PRIOR TO 1870, THE FIRST AFRICAN |
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AMERICANS ELECTED TO SERVE IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE WERE ELECTED TO |
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THE 12TH LEGISLATURE, WHICH CONVENED IN PROVISIONAL SESSION ON |
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FEBRUARY 8, 1870. |
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"PRIOR TO THE END OF FEDERAL RECONSTRUCTION IN 1870, TWELVE |
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AFRICAN AMERICANS SERVED IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND |
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TWO SERVED IN THE TEXAS SENATE. |
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"THIS MARKER IS ERECTED IN HONOR OF: |
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"(FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, AND SURNAME OF THE FORMER |
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MEMBER) (THE CHAMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE IN WHICH THE FORMER |
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MEMBER SERVED AND THE LEGISLATURE DURING WHICH THE FORMER MEMBER |
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SERVED) (THE FORMER MEMBER'S DATE OF BIRTH OR "UNKNOWN," AS |
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APPLICABLE) (THE FORMER MEMBER'S DATE OF DEATH) (EACH COUNTY |
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REPRESENTED BY THE FORMER MEMBER) |
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"ERECTED BY THE 88TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE TEXAS |
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HISTORICAL COMMISSION AS AUTHORIZED BY (NUMBER OF THE BILL PASSED |
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BY THE 88TH LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE |
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HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM HONORING AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATORS)" |
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(e) The commission may seek assistance from other state and |
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local governmental entities in carrying out the commission's duties |
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under this section. |
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(f) The commission may seek and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from public or private sources, including seeking |
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available federal funds, to accomplish the purposes of this |
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section. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2025, the Texas |
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Historical Commission shall install the historical markers |
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required by Section 442.0061, Government Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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* * * * * |