By Goolsby                                            H.B. No. 2439
         77R6712 JSA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to uses of balances in the inaugural fund.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 401, Government Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 401.011 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 401.011.  INAUGURAL ENDOWMENT FUND.  (a)  To the extent
 1-7     that the balance of the inaugural fund exceeds $100,000 plus the
 1-8     amount necessary to cover fund obligations, on the date the
 1-9     inaugural committee appointed for an inauguration is dissolved that
1-10     balance shall be transferred to an account in the general revenue
1-11     fund to be known as the inaugural endowment fund.  The fund shall
1-12     be administered and expended in accordance with this section.
1-13           (b)  The fund may be expended for decorating, furnishing,
1-14     preserving, or improving the Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, or
1-15     other state property of historical significance or for grants in
1-16     support of public schools or public libraries at the discretion of
1-17     the inaugural endowment fund committee.
1-18           (c)  The inaugural endowment fund committee is composed of
1-19     the chair of the Texas Historical Commission, a person appointed by
1-20     the governor, a person appointed by the lieutenant governor, and a
1-21     person appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
1-22     Notwithstanding other law, the spouse of the governor, of a member
1-23     of the legislature, or of another state officer may be appointed to
1-24     the committee.  The governor shall designate the chair of the
 2-1     committee from among the members.
 2-2           (d)  Appointed members of the committee serve for terms of
 2-3     two years, expiring on the third Tuesday in January in odd-numbered
 2-4     years.  Committee members serve without compensation or
 2-5     reimbursement for travel or personal expenses incurred in carrying
 2-6     out committee duties, except that the service of the chair of the
 2-7     Texas Historical Commission is considered an additional duty of
 2-8     that office and expenses for that person shall be reimbursed by the
 2-9     commission to the same extent as for performance of other
2-10     commission duties.
2-11           (e)  Operations of the committee may not be conducted at
2-12     state expense, and committee functions may not be carried out
2-13     through the use of state personnel or equipment.
2-14           (f)  Not later than October 1 of each year, the committee
2-15     shall file a report with the secretary of state detailing
2-16     expenditures made during the 12 months ending on the August 31
2-17     preceding the report.  The secretary of state shall publish the
2-18     report in the Texas Register.
2-19           (g)  The committee is a governmental body for purposes of
2-20     Chapters 551 and 552 but is not subject to Chapter 2001.
2-21           (h)  Section 403.095 does not apply to the inaugural
2-22     endowment fund.
2-23           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect February 1, 2003.
2-24           (b)  The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
2-25     house of representatives shall make the initial appointments to the
2-26     inaugural endowment fund committee not later than March 1, 2003.