H.B. No. 735
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to uses of balances in the inaugural fund; making an
1-3 appropriation.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 401, Government Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 401.011 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 401.011. INAUGURAL ENDOWMENT FUND. (a) To the extent
1-8 that the balance of the inaugural fund exceeds $100,000 plus the
1-9 amount necessary to cover fund obligations, on the date the
1-10 inaugural committee is dissolved that balance shall be transferred
1-11 to an account in the general revenue fund to be known as the
1-12 inaugural endowment fund. The fund shall be administered and
1-13 expended in accordance with this section.
1-14 (b) The fund may be expended for decorating, furnishing,
1-15 preserving, or improving the Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, or
1-16 other state property of historical significance or for grants in
1-17 support of public schools or public libraries at the discretion of
1-18 the inaugural endowment fund committee.
1-19 (c) The inaugural endowment fund committee is composed of
1-20 the chair of the Texas Historical Commission, a person appointed by
1-21 the governor, a person appointed by the lieutenant governor, and a
1-22 person appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
1-23 Notwithstanding other law, the spouse of the governor, of a member
1-24 of the legislature, or of another state officer may be appointed to
2-1 the committee. The governor shall designate the chair of the
2-2 committee from among the members.
2-3 (d) Appointed members of the committee serve for terms of
2-4 two years, expiring on the third Tuesday in January in odd-numbered
2-5 years. Committee members serve without compensation or
2-6 reimbursement for travel or personal expenses incurred in carrying
2-7 out committee duties, except that the service of the chair of the
2-8 Texas Historical Commission is considered an additional duty of
2-9 that office and expenses for that person shall be reimbursed by the
2-10 commission to the same extent as for performance of other
2-11 commission duties.
2-12 (e) Operations of the committee may not be conducted at
2-13 state expense, and committee functions may not be carried out
2-14 through the use of state personnel or equipment.
2-15 (f) Not later than October 1 of each year, the committee
2-16 shall file a report with the secretary of state detailing
2-17 expenditures made during the 12 months ending on the September 1
2-18 preceding the report. The secretary shall publish the report in
2-19 the Texas Register.
2-20 (g) The committee is a governmental body for purposes of
2-21 Chapters 551 and 552 but is not subject to Chapter 2001.
2-22 (h) Sections 403.094 and 403.095 do not apply to the
2-23 inaugural endowment fund.
2-24 (i) This section expires September 1, 1999.
2-25 SECTION 2. For the biennium ending August 31, 1995, the
2-26 balance of the inaugural endowment fund is appropriated to the
2-27 committee established pursuant to Section 401.011, Government Code,
3-1 as added by this Act, for the purposes provided by that section.
3-2 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-7 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-8 passage, and it is so enacted.