AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission (THGC) is comprised of 18 members: three ex officio members and 15 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house. In its present form, the 15 appointed members serve four-year terms that all expire at the same time. In order to allow for better continuity in future transitions, this bill staggers the appointments so that either seven or eight of the commissioners' terms expire every two years. This bill allows for better continuity in future transitions for the commissioners, and thus, will aid THGC as it continues programs originally proposed by and overseen by the commissioners.
S.B. 777 amends current law relating to the terms of the public members of the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 449.008(a), Government Code, to provide that public members of the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission (THGC) serve staggered four-year terms with the terms of seven or eight members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year, rather than providing that a public member of THGC serves a term of four years.
SECTION 2. Provides that when appointing public members to THGC to serve terms that begin February 1, 2015:
(1) the governor is required to appoint two members to terms expiring February 1, 2017, and three members to terms expiring February 1, 2019;
(2) the lieutenant governor is required to appoint three members to terms expiring February 1, 2017, and two members to terms expiring February 1, 2019; and
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives is required to appoint two members to terms expiring February 1, 2017, and three members to terms expiring February 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2013.