78R5298 SGA-F

By:  Smith of Harris                                              H.B. No. 1764



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the San Jacinto Battleground.                                     
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Sections 22.012, 22.013, and 22.014, Parks and 
Wildlife Code, are amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 22.012.  SAN JACINTO BATTLEGROUND HISTORICAL ADVISORY 
BOARD.  (a)  The San Jacinto Battleground Historical Advisory Board 
is composed of:
		(1)  the presiding officer [chairman] of the Battleship 
Texas Foundation [Commission];
		(2)  the presiding officer [president] of the San 
Jacinto Museum of History Association;  and
		(3)  three members of the public.                                             
	(b)  The three members of the public are appointed by the 
governor for staggered terms of six years each, with the term of one 
member expiring September 1 of each odd-numbered year.  The members 
appointed by the governor must include individuals who are 
knowledgeable about the history of this state and have demonstrated 
an interest in the historical preservation of the battleground.
	(c)  One or more of the three public members of the board
[public] may be selected from the San Jacinto Chapter, Daughters of 
the Republic of Texas.
	(d)  The advisory board shall annually elect from its members 
a presiding officer, a vice presiding officer, and a secretary.
	(e)  Each state senator or state representative whose 
district includes the battleground is a nonvoting ex officio board 
member.
	(f)  It is a ground for removal of a public member from the 
board if the member is absent for three regularly scheduled board 
meetings during a calendar year without an excuse approved by a 
majority of the board.
	(g)  If a public member's position on the board becomes 
vacant, the governor shall appoint another public member to fill 
the remaining term of the vacated position as soon as practicable.
	Sec. 22.013.  MEETINGS; BYLAWS.  (a) The San Jacinto 
Battleground Historical Advisory Board shall meet quarterly to 
review the policies and operations of the San Jacinto Battleground 
and to advise the department on the proper historical development 
of the battleground.
	(b)  The board shall:                                                   
		(1)  prepare bylaws; and                                        
		(2)  take minutes for all board meetings [and deliver 
them to the commission].
	(c)  The bylaws may provide for additional nonvoting ex 
officio members.
	(d)  After approval by the board, the secretary of the [The] 
board shall deliver the board's bylaws, [and] any changes made to 
the bylaws, and the minutes of each meeting to the commission[.  Any 
minutes or bylaws delivered to the commission shall be delivered by 
the member of the board who is an employee of the department].
	(e)  The department and advisory board members shall be given 
timely notice of each board meeting.
	Sec. 22.014.  POWERS OF THE BOARD.  The board may:                      
		(1)  conduct an annual commemoration of the Battle of 
San Jacinto at the battleground; and
		(2)  sponsor other educational programs pertaining to 
the battle or the history of this state [accept, in the name of the 
state, all bequests, gifts, and grants of money or property made to 
the battleground and use the bequests for the purposes specified by 
the grantor, if any].
	SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act in the 
qualifications applying to members of the San Jacinto Battleground 
Historical Advisory Board do not affect the entitlement of a member 
serving on the board immediately before September 1, 2003, to 
continue to serve and function as a member of the board for the 
remainder of the member's term.  Those changes in law apply only to 
a member appointed on or after September 1, 2003.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.