|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the creation of a commission to prepare for the |
|
celebration of the state's bicentennial. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the |
|
Texas 2036 Commission. |
|
SECTION 2. COMMISSION. (a) The Texas 2036 Commission is |
|
created. |
|
(b) The commission is composed of 12 members. The executive |
|
director of the Texas Historical Commission, the president general |
|
of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the chair of the |
|
board of directors of the State Fair of Texas are members of the |
|
commission. The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker |
|
of the house of representatives shall each appoint one member to the |
|
commission. The county judges of Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Harris, |
|
Tarrant, and Travis Counties shall each appoint one member to the |
|
commission. |
|
(c) Appointed members of the commission serve for two years |
|
and may be reappointed. |
|
(d) Appointments to the commission shall be made without |
|
regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or |
|
national origin of the appointee. |
|
(e) A vacancy in an appointed office of the commission shall |
|
be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. |
|
SECTION 3. OFFICERS. The commission shall elect one of its |
|
members to serve as chair for a term of two years. The chair is |
|
entitled to vote on all matters before the commission. |
|
SECTION 4. COMPENSATION. A member of the commission serves |
|
without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual |
|
and necessary expenses incurred in performing functions as a member |
|
of the commission, subject to any applicable limitation on |
|
reimbursement provided by the General Appropriations Act. |
|
SECTION 5. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet at the call |
|
of the chair and as provided by commission rule. |
|
SECTION 6. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a) The |
|
commission may adopt rules as necessary for its procedures. |
|
(b) The commission shall plan and coordinate state and local |
|
activities related to the celebration of the state's bicentennial. |
|
(c) The commission may encourage individuals, private |
|
organizations, and local governmental bodies to organize |
|
appropriate activities and may gather and disseminate information |
|
to the public relating to those activities. |
|
(d) The commission may solicit and accept gifts and grants |
|
from any source to be used by the commission in performing its |
|
functions under this Act. |
|
SECTION 7. COMMISSION REPORTS. (a) Before each regular |
|
session of the legislature, the commission shall report to the |
|
legislature on its activities during the preceding two-year period. |
|
The report must include an accounting, verified by a certified |
|
public accountant, of the money raised and spent by the commission |
|
during the period covered by the report. |
|
(b) As soon after March 2, 2036, as the commission |
|
determines that it has completed its work and has satisfied its |
|
financial obligations, but not later than December 31, 2036, the |
|
commission shall file with the legislature and the secretary of |
|
state a final report verified by a certified public accountant that |
|
shows: |
|
(1) the total amount of contributions received by the |
|
commission during the commission's existence; |
|
(2) the total amount of expenditures made by the |
|
commission; and |
|
(3) the total amount of money remaining in the |
|
commission's possession. |
|
(c) On the date on which the commission files its final |
|
report, the commission shall deliver to the comptroller of public |
|
accounts all unexpended and unobligated money that the commission |
|
possesses. The comptroller shall deposit the money to the credit of |
|
the general revenue fund. |
|
SECTION 8. EXPIRATION. This Act expires and the commission |
|
is abolished January 1, 2037. |
|
SECTION 9. INITIAL APPOINTMENTS. The governor, the |
|
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
|
and the appropriate county judges shall make the appointments |
|
required by Section 2 of this Act not later than November 1, 2013. |
|
SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
|
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
|
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
|
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
|
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |