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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Antisemitism. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 448 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 448. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 448.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Antisemitism" means a certain perception of Jews |
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that may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. The term includes |
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rhetorical and physical acts of antisemitism directed toward Jewish |
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or non-Jewish individuals or their property or toward Jewish |
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community institutions and religious facilities. Examples of |
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antisemitism are included with the International Holocaust |
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Remembrance Alliance's "Working Definition of Antisemitism" |
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adopted on May 26, 2016. |
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(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on |
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Antisemitism. |
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Sec. 448.002. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Commission on |
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Antisemitism is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless |
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continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission |
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is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2033. |
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Sec. 448.003. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The commission is |
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administratively attached to the Texas Historical Commission. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM |
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Sec. 448.051. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) The governor |
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shall appoint nine members to the commission. |
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(b) A member of the commission must be a resident of this |
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state. |
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(c) The commission must include members who have |
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demonstrated a significant interest in and are knowledgeable about |
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issues in the Jewish community and antisemitism. |
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Sec. 448.052. TERMS. (a) Commission members serve |
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staggered six-year terms with the terms of three members expiring |
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February 1 of each odd-numbered year. |
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(b) A commission member is eligible for reappointment to |
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another term or part of a term. |
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(c) A commission member may not serve more than two |
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consecutive terms. For purposes of this subsection, a member is |
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considered to have served a term only if the member served two or |
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more years of the member's term. |
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Sec. 448.053. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate a member of the commission as presiding officer of the |
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commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the |
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governor. |
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Sec. 448.054. COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. A member of the |
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commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to |
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reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while |
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transacting commission business, as provided by the General |
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Appropriations Act. |
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Sec. 448.055. MEETINGS; QUORUM; PUBLIC ACCESS. (a) The |
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commission shall meet at least quarterly at the times and places in |
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this state the commission designates. |
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(b) Five voting members of the commission constitute a |
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quorum for transacting commission business. |
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(c) The commission shall develop and implement policies |
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that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear |
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before the commission and speak on any issue under the jurisdiction |
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of the commission. |
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Sec. 448.056. COORDINATOR; STAFF. (a) The Texas |
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Historical Commission shall provide one part-time employee to serve |
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as the coordinator for the commission to transact commission |
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business. |
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(b) The Texas Historical Commission may provide staff and |
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may support functions and activities of the commission from money |
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available to the Texas Historical Commission that may be used for |
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this purpose. The legislature may also specifically appropriate |
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money to the Texas Historical Commission to provide staff and to |
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otherwise support functions and activities of the commission. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES AND FUNDING |
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Sec. 448.101. ADVISORY STATUS OF COMMISSION. (a) In |
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implementing its powers and duties under this chapter, the |
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commission functions only in an advisory capacity. Membership on |
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the commission does not constitute a public office. |
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(b) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the commission. |
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Sec. 448.102. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission |
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shall: |
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(1) conduct a study on antisemitism in this state and |
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submit a report on the results of the study to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and each member of the legislature not later than November 1 of each |
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even-numbered year; |
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(2) provide advice and assistance to public and |
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private primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher |
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education in this state regarding methods of combating |
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antisemitism; |
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(3) meet with appropriate representatives of public |
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and private organizations, including service organizations, to |
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provide information on and to assist in planning, coordinating, or |
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modifying antisemitism awareness programs; and |
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(4) solicit volunteers to participate in |
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commemorative events designed to enhance public awareness of the |
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fight against antisemitism. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary for its |
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own procedures. |
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Sec. 448.103. FUNDING; AFFILIATED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. |
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(a) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations from a |
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public or private source for the commission to use in performing the |
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commission's duties under this chapter. |
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(b) The commission may participate in the establishment and |
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operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is |
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to raise funds for or provide services or other benefits to the |
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commission. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the Texas |
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Commission on Antisemitism as provided by Chapter 448, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. To implement the staggering of terms of |
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members of the commission provided by Section 448.052, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act, in making the first appointments to the |
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commission, the governor shall provide for three of the members to |
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serve terms expiring February 1, 2023, three of the members to serve |
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terms expiring February 1, 2025, and three of the members to serve |
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terms expiring February 1, 2027. Subsequent appointments shall be |
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for six-year terms, as provided by Section 448.052, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |