Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
By Stiles H.B. No. 1428
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation and operation of a commission to
1-3 coordinate the celebration of the centennial of the discovery of
1-4 the Spindletop Oil Field.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. COMMISSION. (a) The Spindletop Centennial
1-7 Celebration Commission (Spindletop 2001 Commission) is created and
1-8 is composed of:
1-9 (1) thirteen public members appointed by the governor:
1-10 (A) two members from Lamar University;
1-11 (B) one member from Texas A&M University;
1-12 (C) two members from the Texas Energy Museum;
1-13 (D) five members from among the residents of
1-14 Jefferson County;
1-15 (E) three members from the state-at-large; and
1-16 (2) two members of the senate appointed by the
1-17 lieutenant governor to serve as ex-officio members;
1-18 (3) two members of the house of representatives
1-19 appointed by the speaker of the house to serve as ex-officio
1-20 members;
1-21 (4) the executive director of the Texas Railroad
1-22 Commission to serve as an ex-officio member;
1-23 (5) the executive director of the Texas Natural
1-24 Resources Conservation Commission to serve as an ex-officio member;
2-1 and
2-2 (6) the executive director of the Texas Historical
2-3 Commission to serve as an ex-officio member.
2-4 (b) A member of the legislature vacates the person's
2-5 position on the commission if the person ceases to be a member of
2-6 the legislature. A vacancy is filled by the appointing officer in
2-7 the same manner as the original appointment.
2-8 (c) An ex-officio member may designate a representative to
2-9 serve in the member's absence. A representative designated under
2-10 this subsection must be an officer or employee of the member's
2-11 state agency or house of the legislature.
2-12 (d) Each member is a voting member. The duties performed by
2-13 a state officer or employee as a member of the commission
2-14 constitute additional duties of the office or employment.
2-15 (e) Appointments of the public members to the commission
2-16 shall be made without regard to the race, color, handicap, sex,
2-17 religion, age or national origin of the appointee.
2-18 (f) A member of the commission is not liable to civil action
2-19 for any act performed in good faith in the execution of duties as a
2-20 commission member.
2-21 (g) The commission is subject to the open meetings law,
2-22 Chapter 271, Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular Session, 1967
2-23 (Article 6252-17, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) and its subsequent
2-24 amendments and the Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act
2-25 (Article 6252-13a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) and its
2-26 subsequent amendments.
2-27 SECTION 2. TERMS. Public members of the commission hold
2-28 office until the expiration of the commission.
2-29 SECTION 3. OFFICERS. At its first meeting, the commission
2-30 shall elect one of its members to serve as chair. The chair is
3-1 entitled to vote on all matters before the commission.
3-2 SECTION 4. COMPENSATION. A public member of the commission
3-3 may not receive compensation for serving on the commission. A
3-4 public member is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary
3-5 expenses incurred in performing functions as a member of the
3-6 commission, subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement
3-7 provided by the General Appropriations Act.
3-8 SECTION 5. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet at the call
3-9 of the chair and as provided by commission rule. Regularly
3-10 scheduled meetings shall be held at the Texas Energy Museum in
3-11 Beaumont. Special meetings may be held at other locations in the
3-12 state.
3-13 SECTION 6. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a)
3-14 The commission may adopt rules as necessary for its own procedures.
3-15 (b) The commission shall coordinate state and local
3-16 activities relating to the celebration of the centennial of the
3-17 discovery of the Spindletop Oil Field.
3-18 (c) The commission may encourage individuals, corporations,
3-19 private organizations and local governmental bodies to organize
3-20 appropriate activities and may gather and disseminate information
3-21 to the public relating to those activities.
3-22 (d) The commission may accept gifts and grants from any
3-23 source to be used by the commission in performing its functions
3-24 under this Act.
3-25 SECTION 7. FINAL REPORT. (a) As soon after December 31,
3-26 2001, as the commission determines that it has completed its work
3-27 and has satisfied its financial obligations, but not later than
3-28 March 31, 2002, the commission shall file with the secretary of
3-29 state a final report verified by a certified public accountant that
3-30 shows:
4-1 (1) the total amount of contributions received by the
4-2 commission during the commission's existence;
4-3 (2) the total amount of expenditures made by the
4-4 commission from non-appropriated funds; and
4-5 (3) the total amount of non-appropriated funds
4-6 remaining in the commission's possession.
4-7 (b) On the date on which the commission files its final
4-8 report with the secretary of state, the commission shall deliver to
4-9 the state treasurer all unexpended non-appropriated funds it
4-10 possesses. The treasurer shall deposit the funds in the state
4-11 treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.
4-12 SECTION 8. EXPIRATION. This Act expires and the commission
4-13 is abolished effective March 31, 2001.
4-14 SECTION 9. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
4-15 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-19 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-20 passage, and it is so enacted.