By Hunter                                            H.C.R. No. 143

         75R7830 CCK-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The studies of the arts, sciences, and humanities

 1-2     are woven into the fabric of our cultural identity, and advancement

 1-3     in these areas opens up new horizons in learning and allows us to

 1-4     celebrate the diversity and unique cultural heritage of Texas; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Recognizing outstanding individuals in these fields

 1-6     and bestowing on them titles of honor is a long-standing practice

 1-7     in many states and serves as an encouragement to other talented

 1-8     researchers and practitioners of these studies; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, By implementing a cultural awareness program that

1-10     includes a system of awards for those who have made significant

1-11     contributions in the fields of science, art, and the humanities,

1-12     the Texas Legislature fosters the expression and exchange of ideas,

1-13     which is the highest priority of a democratic society; and

1-14           WHEREAS, The 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, adopted

1-15     House Concurrent Resolution 92, establishing the Governor's Awards

1-16     for Excellence in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences, to be

1-17     conferred on Texans who demonstrate outstanding creative and

1-18     intellectual achievement in these fields of study; and

1-19           WHEREAS, It is useful to refine nomination and selection

1-20     procedures, so that potentially deserving individuals are

1-21     identified, reviewed by knowledgeable panelists, and honored where

1-22     appropriate as recipients of these distinguished awards; now,

1-23     therefore, be it

1-24           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-1     hereby provide that the governor have final authority to approve

 2-2     all winners of the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts,

 2-3     Humanities, and Sciences, by naming one winner annually from each

 2-4     category; and, be it further

 2-5           RESOLVED, That a nominations committee be established,

 2-6     composed of six staff-level members:  three members to be appointed

 2-7     by and serve at the pleasure of the governor; one member to be

 2-8     appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Texas Commission on

 2-9     the Arts; one member to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure

2-10     of the Texas Committee for the Humanities, headquartered in Austin,

2-11     a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities; and

2-12     one member to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the

2-13     Texas Academy of Science, headquartered in San Angelo, an

2-14     affiliated academy of the American Association for the Advancement

2-15     of Science; and, be it further

2-16           RESOLVED, That a blue ribbon selection committee be

2-17     established, composed of nine members to be appointed by and serve

2-18     at the pleasure of the governor; and, be it further

2-19           RESOLVED, That the nominations committee develop criteria,

2-20     within the separate categories of the arts, sciences, and

2-21     humanities for award nominations, and that pursuant to those

2-22     criteria, the committee annually solicit and receive tentative

2-23     nominations from among arts, humanities, and scientific

2-24     organizations throughout the state; and, be it further

2-25           RESOLVED, That the nominations committee screen the tentative

2-26     nominations for conformity to its criteria, and in turn forward to

2-27     the selection committee resulting nomination lists and supporting

 3-1     information for each of the three award categories; and, be it

 3-2     further

 3-3           RESOLVED, That the selection committee advise the governor on

 3-4     final annual selection and submit to the governor the names of at

 3-5     least three nominees each in the categories of the arts,

 3-6     humanities, and sciences; and, be it further

 3-7           RESOLVED, That funding for the award nomination and selection

 3-8     processes, and for the award presentation program, be entirely from

 3-9     private sources; and, be it further

3-10           RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official

3-11     copies of this resolution to the Texas Commission on the Arts, the

3-12     Texas Committee for the Humanities, and the Texas Academy of

3-13     Science, informing them of their respective roles in this worthy

3-14     endeavor.