Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 3441 amends several statutes relating to the Commission on Human Rights civil rights division, the Crime Victims' Institute, the management of certain accounts and funds, premarital education, and certain election-related forms. House Bill 3441 amends the Labor Code to create the civil rights division of the Texas Workforce Commission. It abolishes the existing Commission on Human Rights and transfers its powers and duties to the civil rights division, which is governed by a new seven-member human rights commission appointed by the governor. House Bill 3441 amends and transfers provisions of Chapter 412, Government Code, relating to the Crime Victims' Institute and the Crime Victims' Institute Advisory Council, to Chapter 96, Education Code. The bill transfers the supervision and direction of the institute from the office of the attorney general to the president of Sam Houston State University, and it transfers the power to appoint the advisory council from the attorney general to the governor.

            House Bill 3441 amends the Government Code to create the Capitol trust fund, the Capitol account, and the Capitol renewal account. The bill requires that income from the Capitol gift shops, cafeteria, and Visitors Parking Garage be held in the Capitol trust fund outside the state treasury and that funds generated from other sources be deposited in the general revenue fund's Capitol account. The Capitol renewal account, which is to be used to maintain and preserve the Capitol and was formerly a trust fund outside the treasury, is created as a dedicated account in the general revenue fund. House Bill 3441 allows a state agency to transfer a portion of the savings or revenues realized through the state employee incentive program to the Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission for operational expenses.

            House Bill 3441 amends the Family Code to make the distribution of a premarital education handbook to each applicant for a marriage license optional rather than mandatory. The bill amends the Election Code to repeal provisions that required the Texas Ethics Commission to send certain report forms relating to political funds and campaign finances and activities to persons required to submit the forms to the commission.

Reason Given for Veto:  "Some of the provisions of House Bill No. 3441 have been accomplished in other legislation that I have signed. However, House Bill No. 3441 also would have the unintended consequence of not providing the State Preservation Board with access to funds currently used for emergencies or unexpected maintenance in and around the Capitol Complex.

Transfer of the Human Rights Commission to the Texas Workforce Commission already has been accomplished by House Bill 2933, and Senate Bill No. 1245 gives oversight of the Crime Victim's Institute to Sam House State University.