By: Parker, et al. H.B. No. 2497
        (Senate Sponsor - Creighton, Schwertner)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2021;
  May 10, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Education; May 24, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 7, Nays 2; May 24, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the establishment and duties of the Texas 1836 Project.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 451 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 451. TEXAS 1836 PROJECT
         Sec. 451.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "1836 Project" means the advisory committee
  established under this chapter.
               (2)  "Patriotic education" includes the:
                     (A)  presentation of the history of this state's
  founding and foundational principles;
                     (B)  examination of how this state has grown
  closer to those principles throughout its history; and
                     (C)  explanation of why commitment to those
  principles is beneficial and justified.
               (3)  "State agency" means a department, commission,
  board, office, or other agency in the executive branch of state
  government that is created by the constitution or a statute of this
  state.
         Sec. 451.002.  ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The 1836 Project is
  established as an advisory committee to promote patriotic education
  and increase awareness of the Texas values that continue to
  stimulate boundless prosperity across this state.
         (b)  The 1836 Project is composed of nine members.  The
  governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
  representatives shall each appoint three members.  The appointees
  may include persons in the private sector with relevant experience
  or subject matter expertise.
         (c)  Members serve two-year terms and may not be removed
  except for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.
         (d)  The governor shall appoint one member of the 1836
  Project as the presiding officer.
         (e)  The presiding officer shall:
               (1)  convene regular meetings of the 1836 Project; and
               (2)  coordinate and direct the activities of the 1836
  Project.
         Sec. 451.003.  DUTIES. (a)  The 1836 Project shall:
               (1)  promote awareness among residents of this state of
  the following as they relate to the history of prosperity and
  democratic freedom in this state:
                     (A)  Texas history, including the indigenous
  peoples of this state, the Spanish and Mexican heritage of this
  state, Tejanos, the Texas War for Independence, annexation of Texas
  by the United States, the Christian heritage of this state, this
  state's heritage of keeping and bearing firearms in defense of life
  and liberty and for use in hunting, and Juneteenth;
                     (B)  the founding documents of this state;
                     (C)  the founders of this state;
                     (D)  state civics; and
                     (E)  the role of this state in passing and
  reauthorizing the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.
  Section 10101 et seq.), highlighting:
                           (i)  President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing
  of the act;
                           (ii)  President George W. Bush's 25-year
  extension of the act; and
                           (iii)  Congresswoman Barbara Jordan's
  successful efforts to broaden the act to include Spanish-speaking
  communities;
               (2)  advise the governor on the core principles of the
  founding of this state and how those principles further enrich the
  lives of its residents;
               (3)  facilitate the development and implementation of
  the Gubernatorial 1836 Award to recognize student knowledge of
  Texas Independence and other items listed in Subdivisions
  (1)(A)-(D);
               (4)  advise state agencies with regard to their efforts
  to ensure patriotic education is provided to the public at state
  parks, battlefields, monuments, museums, installations, landmarks,
  cemeteries, and other places important to the Texas War for
  Independence and founding of this state, as appropriate and
  consistent with applicable law; and
               (5)  facilitate, advise on, and promote other
  activities to support public knowledge of and patriotic education
  on the Texas War for Independence and founding of this state, as
  appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
         (b)  In carrying out its duties under Subsection (a)(2), the
  project may solicit statements and contributions from intellectual
  and cultural figures.
         Sec. 451.004.  FUNDING; COMPENSATION. (a) The Texas
  Education Agency shall provide funding and administrative support
  for the 1836 Project, including for the pamphlets described by
  Section 451.005, to the extent funds are available for those
  purposes.
         (b)  A member of the 1836 Project is not entitled to
  compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the travel
  expenses incurred by the member while transacting project business,
  as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
         Sec. 451.005.  PAMPHLET. Not later than September 1, 2022,
  the 1836 Project shall provide a pamphlet to the Texas Department of
  Public Safety that explains the significance of policy decisions
  made by this state that promote liberty and freedom for businesses
  and families. The contents must include:
               (1)  an overview of Texas history and civics;
               (2)  the legacy of economic prosperity in this state;
  and
               (3)  the abundant opportunities for businesses and
  families in this state.
         Sec. 451.006.  REPORT. (a)  Not later than September 1,
  2022, the 1836 Project shall prepare and produce a written report
  that includes:
               (1)  a description of the activities of the project;
               (2)  the findings and recommendations of the project;
               (3)  a plan that identifies the best method of carrying
  out the duties under Sections 451.003(a)(1), (4), and (5);
               (4)  any proposals for legislation; and
               (5)  any other matter the project considers
  appropriate.
         (b)  Subsequent to the report required under Subsection (a),
  the 1836 Project may prepare and produce additional reports the
  project considers appropriate.
         (c)  The Texas Education Agency shall make a report described
  by this section available to the public on the agency's Internet
  website.
         (d)  To the extent existing agency resources are available
  for this purpose, the Texas Education Agency may provide to the 1836
  Project any agency resources necessary to prepare or produce a
  report described by this section.
         Sec. 451.007.  ABOLITION; EXPIRATION. The 1836 Project is
  abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2036.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.013 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.013.  TEXAS 1836 PROJECT PAMPHLET. (a) The
  department shall provide the pamphlet described by Section 451.005,
  Government Code, to persons who receive a driver's license:
               (1)  after applying under Section 521.144; or
               (2)  with an expiration provided by Section
  521.271(a-2) or (a-3).
         (b)  The department shall make the pamphlet described by
  Section 451.005, Government Code, available to the public on the
  department's Internet website.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
  this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
  the house of representatives shall make the appointments to the
  1836 Project under Section 451.002, Government Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
  * * * * *