BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 920
By: Van de Putte
Business and Commerce
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 920 establishes an award program known as the "Texas Treasure Award" honoring businesses that have been in existence in Texas for a lengthy, specified period of time. The bill is designed to honor those businesses that have remained committed to Texas for generations and have helped to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 442, Government Code, by adding Section 442.019, as follows:
Sec. 442.019. TEXAS TREASURE AWARDS. (a) Requires the Texas Historical Commission (commission) to create the Texas Treasure Award program to honor businesses that have existed in this state providing employment and supporting the Texas economy for 50 years or more.
(b) Authorizes any person to nominate a business that meets the criteria described by Subsection (a) to the commission for consideration to receive the award.
(c) Requires the commission to establish separate levels of recognition for businesses that have existed in this state providing employment and supporting the Texas economy for at least 50 years, at least 75 years, at least 100 years, and at least 125 years.
(d) Requires the commission to periodically select businesses to receive Texas Treasure Awards for the various levels of recognition as the commission considers appropriate considering the significance of the contribution of each business to this state. Requires the commission to honor the recipient of a Texas Treasure Award by presenting the recipient with a suitable plaque that includes the business' level of recognition and other appropriate information.
(e) Requires the commission to notify the state senator and state representative in whose districts a recipient's principal place of business in this state is located. Requires the commission, the recipient, and the state senator and state representative to cooperate in determining whether the ceremony at which the plaque honoring the recipient will be presented will be held in the hall of the senate, in the hall of the house of representatives, in the municipality or general area in which the recipient's principal place of business in this state is located, or in another suitable location.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.