1-1     By:  Hunter (Senate Sponsor - Wentworth)             H.C.R. No. 143

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 27, 1997;

 1-3     April 29, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on

 1-4     Administration; May 9, 1997, reported favorably by the following

 1-5     vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 9, 1997, sent to printer.)

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-6           WHEREAS, The studies of the arts, sciences, and humanities

 1-7     are woven into the fabric of our cultural identity, and advancement

 1-8     in these areas opens up new horizons in learning and allows us to

 1-9     celebrate the diversity and unique cultural heritage of Texas; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Recognizing outstanding individuals in these fields

1-11     and bestowing on them titles of honor is a long-standing practice

1-12     in many states and serves as an encouragement to other talented

1-13     researchers and practitioners of these studies; and

1-14           WHEREAS, By implementing a cultural awareness program that

1-15     includes a system of awards for those who have made significant

1-16     contributions in the fields of science, art, and the humanities,

1-17     the Texas Legislature fosters the expression and exchange of ideas,

1-18     which is the highest priority of a democratic society; and

1-19           WHEREAS, The 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, adopted

1-20     House Concurrent Resolution 92, establishing the Governor's Awards

1-21     for Excellence in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences, to be

1-22     conferred on Texans who demonstrate outstanding creative and

1-23     intellectual achievement in these fields of study; and

1-24           WHEREAS, It is useful to refine nomination and selection

1-25     procedures, so that potentially deserving individuals are

1-26     identified, reviewed by knowledgeable panelists, and honored where

1-27     appropriate as recipients of these distinguished awards; now,

1-28     therefore, be it

1-29           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-30     hereby provide that the governor have final authority to approve

1-31     all winners of the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts,

1-32     Humanities, and Sciences, by naming one winner annually from each

1-33     category; and, be it further

1-34           RESOLVED, That a nominations committee be established,

1-35     composed of six staff-level members:  three members to be appointed

1-36     by and serve at the pleasure of the governor; one member to be

1-37     appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Texas Commission on

1-38     the Arts; one member to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure

1-39     of the Texas Committee for the Humanities, headquartered in Austin,

1-40     a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities; and

1-41     one member to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the

1-42     Texas Academy of Science, headquartered in San Angelo, an

1-43     affiliated academy of the American Association for the Advancement

1-44     of Science; and, be it further

1-45           RESOLVED, That a blue ribbon selection committee be

1-46     established, composed of nine members to be appointed by and serve

1-47     at the pleasure of the governor; and, be it further

1-48           RESOLVED, That the nominations committee develop criteria,

1-49     within the separate categories of the arts, sciences, and

1-50     humanities for award nominations, and that pursuant to those

1-51     criteria, the committee annually solicit and receive tentative

1-52     nominations from among arts, humanities, and scientific

1-53     organizations throughout the state; and, be it further

1-54           RESOLVED, That the nominations committee screen the tentative

1-55     nominations for conformity to its criteria, and in turn forward to

1-56     the selection committee resulting nomination lists and supporting

1-57     information for each of the three award categories; and, be it

1-58     further

1-59           RESOLVED, That the selection committee advise the governor on

1-60     final annual selection and submit to the governor the names of at

1-61     least three nominees each in the categories of the arts,

1-62     humanities, and sciences; and, be it further

1-63           RESOLVED, That funding for the award nomination and selection

1-64     processes, and for the award presentation program, be entirely from

 2-1     private sources; and, be it further

 2-2           RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official

 2-3     copies of this resolution to the Texas Commission on the Arts, the

 2-4     Texas Committee for the Humanities, and the Texas Academy of

 2-5     Science, informing them of their respective roles in this worthy

 2-6     endeavor.

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