| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the creation of a task force to study the legal and |
|
|
societal barriers to equality for persons who are transgender. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the |
|
|
transgender equality task force. |
|
|
(b) The task force is established to study the legal and |
|
|
societal barriers to equality for persons in this state who are |
|
|
transgender. |
|
|
(c) The task force is composed of: |
|
|
(1) 11 members appointed by the governor as follows: |
|
|
(A) one representative of the Texas Department of |
|
|
Banking; |
|
|
(B) one representative of the Texas Department of |
|
|
Criminal Justice; |
|
|
(C) one representative of the Department of |
|
|
Family and Protective Services; |
|
|
(D) one representative of the Texas Department of |
|
|
Insurance; |
|
|
(E) one representative of the Department of State |
|
|
Health Services; |
|
|
(F) one representative of the Texas Education |
|
|
Agency; |
|
|
(G) one representative of the Health and Human |
|
|
Services Commission; |
|
|
(H) one representative of an institution of |
|
|
higher education; |
|
|
(I) one representative of the Texas Workforce |
|
|
Commission civil rights division; |
|
|
(J) one representative of the Texas Workforce |
|
|
Commission division of workforce development; and |
|
|
(K) one representative of a nonprofit |
|
|
organization dedicated to civil rights; |
|
|
(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(A) a parent or guardian of a person who is |
|
|
transgender; and |
|
|
(B) an attorney who specializes in transgender |
|
|
rights; and |
|
|
(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house |
|
|
of representatives as follows: |
|
|
(A) a physician who specializes in transgender |
|
|
health issues; and |
|
|
(B) one person who is transgender. |
|
|
(d) The task force shall hold its first meeting not later |
|
|
than October 1, 2019, and shall elect a presiding officer from among |
|
|
its membership. The task force shall hold subsequent meetings at |
|
|
least quarterly at the call of the presiding officer. |
|
|
(e) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for |
|
|
service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for |
|
|
actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force |
|
|
duties. The task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to |
|
|
pay for those expenses. |
|
|
(f) The Texas Workforce Commission civil rights division |
|
|
shall provide administrative support services at the request of the |
|
|
task force. |
|
|
(g) The task force shall study how to ensure equality and |
|
|
improve the lives of persons who are transgender, with particular |
|
|
attention to the following areas: |
|
|
(1) health care, including access to health care |
|
|
providers who are trained in transgender medical issues; |
|
|
(2) long-term care for persons who are transgender and |
|
|
chronically ill or of advanced age; |
|
|
(3) education; |
|
|
(4) higher education; |
|
|
(5) housing, including homelessness prevention and |
|
|
reduction; |
|
|
(6) employment; and |
|
|
(7) criminal justice, including the following: |
|
|
(A) raising transgender awareness among law |
|
|
enforcement through training; and |
|
|
(B) facilitating the appropriate placement of |
|
|
persons who are transgender in correctional facilities based on a |
|
|
person's gender identity. |
|
|
(h) A state agency shall cooperate with and assist the task |
|
|
force in carrying out the duties of the task force. |
|
|
(i) Not later than December 1, 2020, the task force shall |
|
|
prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a written |
|
|
report that summarizes the task force's findings under this section |
|
|
and recommends solutions for advancing transgender equality and |
|
|
improving the lives of persons in this state who are transgender. |
|
|
(j) The task force is abolished and this Act expires |
|
|
September 1, 2021. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |