By: West, et al. S.B. No. 667
 
  (Dutton, Rose)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a state historical marker program to honor
  African Americans who served in the Texas Legislature during
  Reconstruction.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Texas Black
  Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 442.0061 to read as follows:
         Sec. 442.0061.  STATE HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM TO HONOR
  AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATORS. (a) The commission shall establish
  and administer a state historical marker program to honor African
  Americans who served in the Texas Legislature between 1870 and
  1875, during the 12th, 13th, or 14th Legislative Session.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commission
  shall install a historical marker at or as near as practicable to
  the grave of each former member of the Texas Legislature described
  by Subsection (a) in consultation with the:
               (1)  county historical commission established under
  Chapter 318, Local Government Code, for the county in which the
  grave is located; and
               (2)  cemetery association or other entity that manages
  the cemetery in which the grave is located.
         (c)  If the former member's place of burial is unknown or the
  commission determines that placement of a historical marker at the
  former member's place of burial is inappropriate, the commission,
  in consultation with the county historical commission established
  under Chapter 318, Local Government Code, for each county
  represented by the former member, shall install a historical marker
  at an appropriate place within the boundaries of the counties
  represented by the former member.
         (d)  Historical markers installed under this section must:
               (1)  have the same form, dimensions, and illustrations
  as a large Official Texas Historical Marker described by Section
  442.006(c) except that the markers must also include the state seal
  at the bottom of the markers; and
               (2)  include text that reads:
         "FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES
  IN 1865, IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1871 THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS WERE
  ABLE TO UNIFORMLY REGISTER TO VOTE, FOLLOWING THE RATIFICATION OF
  THE 15TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
         "WHILE AFRICAN AMERICANS SERVED AS DELEGATES TO STATE
  CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS PRIOR TO 1870, THE FIRST AFRICAN
  AMERICANS ELECTED TO SERVE IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE WERE ELECTED TO
  THE 12TH LEGISLATURE, WHICH CONVENED IN PROVISIONAL SESSION ON
  FEBRUARY 8, 1870.
         "PRIOR TO THE END OF FEDERAL RECONSTRUCTION IN 1870, TWELVE
  AFRICAN AMERICANS SERVED IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND
  TWO SERVED IN THE TEXAS SENATE.
         "THIS MARKER IS ERECTED IN HONOR OF:
         "(FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, AND SURNAME OF THE FORMER
  MEMBER)  (THE CHAMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE IN WHICH THE FORMER
  MEMBER SERVED AND THE LEGISLATURE DURING WHICH THE FORMER MEMBER
  SERVED)  (THE FORMER MEMBER'S DATE OF BIRTH OR "UNKNOWN," AS
  APPLICABLE)  (THE FORMER MEMBER'S DATE OF DEATH)  (EACH COUNTY
  REPRESENTED BY THE FORMER MEMBER)
         "ERECTED BY THE 88TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE TEXAS
  HISTORICAL COMMISSION AS AUTHORIZED BY (NUMBER OF THE BILL PASSED
  BY THE 88TH LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE
  HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM HONORING AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATORS)"
         (e)  The commission may seek assistance from other state and
  local governmental entities in carrying out the commission's duties
  under this section.
         (f)  The commission may seek and accept gifts, grants, and
  donations from public or private sources, including seeking
  available federal funds, to accomplish the purposes of this
  section.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2025, the Texas
  Historical Commission shall install the historical markers
  required by Section 442.0061, Government Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.