BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 763
	By: Huffman
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	6/8/2017
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 763 amends the language of S.B. 763 as filed from requiring three nominees to be professionals in the enumerated fields (archeology, history, and architecture) to requiring the nominees to have expertise in the enumerated fields with a preference for professionals of those fields as nominees. (Original Author�s / Sponsor�s Statement of Intent)

S.B. 763 amends current law relating to the composition of the Texas Historical 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 442.002(b), Government Code, as follows:

(b) Provides that Texas Historical Commission (THC) is composed of 15 members, rather than nine members, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Requires that one member have expertise in archeology, preferably as a professional archeologist, one member have expertise in history, preferably as a professional historian, and one member have expertise in architecture, preferably as a professional architect who is licensed in this state and has expertise in historic preservation and architectural history. Requires the remaining members to represent the general public. Provides that a person is not eligible for appointment as a member of THC if the person or person's spouse meet certain criteria, rather than prohibits a person from being a THC member if the person or the person's spouse meets certain criteria.

SECTION 2. Requires the governor, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to appoint six additional members to THC as required by Section 442.002(b), Government Code, as amended by this Act. Requires the governor, in appointing the additional members to THC, to appoint:

(1) two members, including one member with archeology expertise, to terms expiring February 1, 2019;

(2) two members, including one member with history expertise, to terms expiring February 1, 2021; and

(3) two members, including one member with architecture expertise, to terms expiring February 1, 2023.��

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.