HBA-KDB C.S.H.B. 2061 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2061 By: Wilson House Administration 4/20/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There has been much controversy across the nation regarding symbols of American history that are located on government property. Currently, in the state of Texas, there is no historical representation advisory committee that ensures the diverse history of this state is accurately represented in the Capitol Complex and on other land owned by the state. C.S.H.B. 2061 establishes a historical representation advisory committee. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2061 amends the Government Code to create the historical representation advisory committee (advisory committee). The bill requires the advisory committee to provide guidance to the State Preservation Board (board), the Texas Historical Commission, and the General Services Commission (GSC) on the addition of monuments to the Capitol Complex and other land owned by the state to ensure that the diverse history of Texas is accurately represented in the Capitol Complex and on other land owned by the state. The advisory committee consists of 12 members who are to be appointed no later than January 1, 2002, four appointed by the governor, four appointed by the lieutenant governor, and four appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives (appointing officers). The bill requires the appointing officers, in making the appointments, to attempt to include African American Texans, Hispanic American Texans, Native American Texans, female Texans, and Texans exemplifying rural heritage. The bill requires the governor to designate the presiding officer of the advisory committee from among the members of the committee. The presiding officer serves a term of two years and is required to serve as the liaison between the advisory committee and GSC. The bill provides that a member of the advisory committee serves at the pleasure of the appointing officer and serves without compensation or reimbursement of expenses. The bill requires the advisory committee to conduct meetings the advisory committee considers necessary to provide guidance. The bill requires the board to provide necessary administrative support to the advisory committee. The bill requires the advisory committee to develop its own bylaws under which it is required to operate. Current law in effect governing state agency advisory committees does not apply to the advisory committee. The advisory committee is subject to the open meetings law and to the Texas Sunset Act, and will be abolished September 1, 2013, unless continued by the legislature. The bill requires the advisory committee to collect information relating to each monument in the Capitol Complex and on other land owned by the state, and to develop a plan, in cooperation with the chair of the history department at Prairie View A&M University, at The University of Texas at Austin, or at any other land grant university in the state, as determined by the advisory committee, that ensures the historical accuracy of any proposed monument, equitable representation of the military service of all Texans, and equitable representation of African slaves, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, women in Texas history, and Texans exemplifying rural heritage in monuments in the Capitol Complex and on other land owned by the state. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 2061 modifies the original bill by increasing from 9 to 12 the number of members on the historical representation advisory committee (advisory committee). The substitute provides that the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house representatives (appointing officers) each appoint four, rather than three, members. The substitute requires that the appointing officers, in making appointments to the advisory committee, attempt to include female Texans and Texans exemplifying rural heritage. The substitute requires the governor, rather than the advisory committee, to designate the presiding officer of the advisory committee. The substitute provides that the presiding officer serves a term of two years and is required to serve as the liaison between the advisory committee and the General Services Commission. The substitute provides that the advisory committee is subject to the open meetings law and the Texas Sunset Act, and will be abolished September 1, 2013, unless continued by the legislature. The substitute requires the advisory committee to develop a plan in cooperation with the chair of the history department at Prairie View A&M University, at The University of Texas at Austin, or at any other land grant university in the state, as determined by the advisory committee, that ensures the diverse history of Texas is accurately and equitably represented in monuments in the Capitol Complex and on other land owned by the state. The original bill required the advisory committee to develop such a plan in cooperation only with Prairie View A&M University. The substitute requires that the plan ensure that women in Texas history and Texans exemplifying rural heritage also have equitable representation in monuments in the Capitol Complex and on other land owned by the state.