80R5731 SGA-F

By: Smith of Harris H.B. No. 1653

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the historical advisory board of 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 or an appointed representative [chairman] of the Battleship Texas Foundation [Commission];

(2) the presiding officer or an appointed representative [president] of the San Jacinto Museum of History Association; [and]

(3) the presiding officer or an appointed representative of the San Jacinto Battleground Association;

(4) the executive director of the Parks and Wildlife Department or an appointed representative of that department;

(5) the executive director of the Texas Historical Commission or an appointed representative of that commission; and

(6) four [three] members of the public.

(b) The four [three] members of the public are appointed by the governor for staggered terms of six years each, with the term of one or two members [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 four public [three] members of the board [public] may be selected from the San Jacinto Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

(d) The board shall annually elect from its members a presiding officer, a vice presiding officer, and a secretary.

(e) Each state senator and 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.

(h) A member of the board serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the performance of official board duties from funds appropriated to the department.

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].

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. (a) 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, 2007, 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, 2007.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2007, the governor shall appoint a fourth public member to the San Jacinto Battleground Historical Advisory Board to a term that expires September 1, 2013.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.