BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 763

By: Huffman

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the current qualifications for membership on the Texas Historical Commission are not sufficient to ensure adequate diversity of experience and expertise among commission members. S.B. 763 seeks to address this issue by revising the composition and membership requirements of the commission.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 763 amends the Government Code to increase from nine to 15 the number of members of the Texas Historical Commission. The bill requires one member to have expertise in archeology, preferably as a professional archeologist, one to have expertise in history, preferably as a professional historian, and one to have expertise in architecture, preferably as a professional architect who is licensed in Texas and has expertise in historic preservation and architectural history. The bill requires the remaining members to represent the general public. The bill provides for the transition to the new composition of the commission.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.