SRC-ARR H.B. 1865 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1865 76R6669 MRB-DBy: Edwards (West) State Affairs 5/4/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, Texas law provides for the Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission (commission). H.B. 1865 continues the commission until September 1, 2011. This bill also allows the commission to appoint a person who is not a member of the commission as its presiding officer and authorizes the commission by contract to provide money for goods and services to nonprofit organizations that have promoting Juneteenth as one of their primary functions. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1865 regulates the operation of the Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 448.002 and 448.008, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 448.002. SUNSET PROVISION. Provide that the Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission (commission) is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2011, rather than 2001, unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter. Sec. 448.008. OFFICERS; SUBCOMMITTEES. Requires the commission to appoint a person to serve, rather than ti elect one of its members, as the presiding officer of the commission. Provides that a person appointed as presiding officer serves in that capacity at the will of the commission. Provides that the presiding officer is not required to be a member of the commission. Prohibits the person from voting on the decisions made by the commission and is not counted in determining the presence of a quorum of commission members, if a person who is not a member of the commission is appointed as presiding officer. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 448.009(a), Government Code, to provide a person who is a public member of the commission a person who is not member of the commission but who serves as presiding officer of the commission is not entitled to compensation, but is entitled to reimbursement, from commission funds, for the travel expenses incurred by the person, rather than member, while conducting the business of the commission as a member or presiding officer, as provided by the General Appropriations Act. SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 448B, Government Code, by amending Section 448.031 and adding Section 448.0325, as follows: Sec. 448.031. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. Requires the commission to establish a Juneteenth memorial monument on the grounds of the capitol in cooperation with the State Preservation Board (board), establish other Juneteenth memorial monuments at appropriate locations throughout the state, and establish an advisory committee on maintenance of the monuments, rather than monument, and prepare and distribute certain publications. Requires the board to cooperate with the commission in establishing a monument on the grounds of the State Capitol under Subsection (a)(3). Makes a conforming change. Sec. 448.0325. CONTRACT WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. Authorizes the commission by contract to provide money to a nonprofit organization that has as one of its primary functions the promotion of Juneteenth. Requires the contract to ensure that the nonprofit organization provides services or goods that accomplish a public purpose of the commission. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.