1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the

 1-3     creation of the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 441, Government Code, is amended by

 1-6     adding Subchapter L to read as follows:

 1-7           SUBCHAPTER L.  TEXAS HISTORICAL RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD

 1-8           Sec. 441.201.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:

 1-9                 (1)  "Board" means the Texas Historical Records

1-10     Advisory Board.

1-11                 (2)  "Commission" means the Texas State Library and

1-12     Archives Commission.

1-13                 (3)  "Director and librarian" means the executive and

1-14     administrative officer of the commission.

1-15                 (4)  "Historical records coordinator" means the

1-16     presiding officer of the board.

1-17                 (5)  "National commission" means the National

1-18     Historical Publications and Records Commission.

1-19           Sec. 441.202.  TEXAS HISTORICAL RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD.

1-20     (a)  The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board is established to

1-21     serve as the central advisory body for historical records planning

1-22     and projects funded by the national commission that are developed

1-23     and implemented in this state.

1-24           (b)  The board shall:

 2-1                 (1)  seek funds from the national commission to sponsor

 2-2     and publish surveys of the conditions and needs of historical

 2-3     records in the state;

 2-4                 (2)  solicit and develop proposals for projects to be

 2-5     implemented in the state with funds provided by the national

 2-6     commission and other funding sources;

 2-7                 (3)  review proposals submitted by institutions in the

 2-8     state and make recommendations to the national commission;

 2-9                 (4)  work with the commission to develop, revise, and

2-10     submit state priorities to the national commission for historical

2-11     records projects following guidelines developed by the national

2-12     commission;

2-13                 (5)  review the operation and progress of records

2-14     projects in the state;

2-15                 (6)  foster and support cooperative networks and

2-16     programs dealing with historical records in conjunction with the

2-17     commission's goals; and

2-18                 (7)  develop and promote programs to raise public

2-19     awareness of the value, condition, and needs of historical records.

2-20           Sec. 441.203.  COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD.  (a)  The board is

2-21     composed of:

2-22                 (1)  the state archivist, who shall be appointed as the

2-23     historical records coordinator by the governor;

2-24                 (2)  two public members, appointed by the governor; and

2-25                 (3)  six members, appointed by the director and

2-26     librarian, who must have recognized experience in the

2-27     administration of government records, historical records, or

 3-1     archives.

 3-2           (b)  The historical records coordinator shall serve as

 3-3     presiding officer of the board.

 3-4           Sec. 441.204.  TERMS.  (a)  The historical records

 3-5     coordinator serves a four-year term.

 3-6           (b)  The two public members appointed by the governor serve

 3-7     staggered terms of three years with the terms of the members

 3-8     expiring on February 1 of different years.

 3-9           (c)  The six members appointed by the director and librarian

3-10     serve staggered terms of three years with the terms of one-third of

3-11     the members expiring on February 1 of each year.

3-12           Sec. 441.205.  COMPENSATION.  A member of the board is not

3-13     entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement from

3-14     board funds for the travel expenses incurred by the member while

3-15     conducting the business of the board, as provided in the General

3-16     Appropriations Act.

3-17           Sec. 441.206.  VACANCY.  A vacancy on the board shall be

3-18     filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

3-19           SECTION 2.  As soon as possible after the effective date of

3-20     this Act, the governor and the director and librarian shall appoint

3-21     the initial members of the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board.

3-22     In making the initial appointments, the governor shall designate

3-23     the historical records coordinator for a term expiring February 1,

3-24     2001, one member for a term expiring February 1, 1999, and one

3-25     member for a term expiring February 1, 2000.  The director and

3-26     librarian shall designate two members for terms expiring February

3-27     1, 1999, two members for terms expiring February 1, 2000, and two

 4-1     members for terms expiring February 1, 2001.

 4-2           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 4-3           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 4-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 4-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 4-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 4-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1811 was passed by the House on April

         18, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1811 was passed by the Senate on May

         24, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor