By Delisi H.B. No. 2453
75R7457 MLS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of the Advisory Commission on Military
1-3 Forces in Texas.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Chapter 436 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 436. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON MILITARY FORCES IN TEXAS
1-8 SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
1-9 Sec. 436.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission"
1-10 means the Advisory Commission on Military Forces in Texas.
1-11 Sec. 436.002. COMPOSITION. The commission is composed of:
1-12 (1) nine public members, appointed by the governor;
1-13 and
1-14 (2) the following ex officio members:
1-15 (A) the chair of the committee of the Texas
1-16 House of Representatives that has primary jurisdiction of matters
1-17 concerning state, federal, and international relations; and
1-18 (B) the chair of the committee of the Texas
1-19 Senate that has primary jurisdiction of matters concerning veteran
1-20 affairs and military installations.
1-21 Sec. 436.003. TERMS. (a) The nine public members of the
1-22 commission serve staggered terms of three years with the terms of
1-23 one-third of the members expiring February 1 of each year.
1-24 (b) A legislative member vacates the person's position on
2-1 the commission if the person ceases to be the chair of the
2-2 applicable legislative committee.
2-3 Sec. 436.004. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
2-4 designate the presiding officer of the commission from among the
2-5 members of the commission.
2-6 Sec. 436.005. COMPENSATION. (a) A public member of the
2-7 commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to
2-8 reimbursement, from commission funds, for the travel expenses
2-9 incurred by the member while conducting the business of the
2-10 commission, as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
2-11 (b) The entitlement of a legislative member to compensation
2-12 or reimbursement for travel expenses is governed by the law
2-13 applying to the member's service in that underlying position, and
2-14 any payments to the member shall be made from the appropriate funds
2-15 of the applicable house of the legislature.
2-16 Sec. 436.006. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Article 6252-33,
2-17 Revised Statutes, does not apply to the commission.
2-18 (Sections 436.007-436.030 reserved for expansion
2-19 SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES
2-20 Sec. 436.031. POWERS AND DUTIES. The commission shall:
2-21 (1) develop policies and plans to support the
2-22 long-term viability and prosperity of the military, active and
2-23 civilian, in this state;
2-24 (2) develop a contingency plan to support and promote
2-25 the military in connection with the possible reduction, closure, or
2-26 conversion of federal military bases in this state;
2-27 (3) develop methods to improve private and public
3-1 employment opportunities for former members of the military
3-2 residing in this state; and
3-3 (4) assist the Texas Department of Commerce in
3-4 compiling information for use in a quarterly economic impact
3-5 statement detailing the effect of the military on the economy of
3-6 this state.
3-7 SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of
3-8 this Act, the governor shall appoint the public initial members of
3-9 the Advisory Commission on Military Forces in Texas. In making the
3-10 initial appointments, the governor shall designate three members
3-11 for terms expiring February 1, 1998, three members for terms
3-12 expiring February 1, 1999, and three members for terms expiring
3-13 February 1, 2000.
3-14 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-15 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.