S.B. No. 1985

AN ACT

relating to the reestablishment of the committee to study the formation of a Texas Bicentennial Commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "committee" means the committee reestablished under Section 2 of this Act.

SECTION 2. COMMITTEE. (a) The committee established by Chapter 734 (H.B. 4056), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is reestablished to continue carrying out the committee's duties. A person who served on the committee established by Chapter 734 may be reappointed to the committee under Subsection (b) of this section by the relevant appointing authority.

(b) The committee is composed of 18 members as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the governor who serves as presiding officer;

(2) one member appointed jointly by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives who serves as assistant presiding officer;

(3) five senators appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(4) five members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(5) six nonvoting members appointed by the governor who are residents of this state with at least one member appointed from each state senatorial district that contains one of the following:

(A) Fair Park;

(B) the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site;

(C) the Alamo;

(D) the State Capitol; or

(E) Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.

(c) The committee must reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this state.

(d) The committee shall meet at the call of the presiding officer. Committee meetings may be held in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication.

(e) The committee may establish subcommittees to assist the committee in carrying out its duties under this Act.

(f) A member of the committee may not receive compensation for service on the committee.

(g) The General Land Office and the Texas Historical Commission shall provide administrative support services at the request of the committee, including assisting in drafting and compiling the report required by this Act.

(h) Committee meetings must be open to the public.

SECTION 3. STUDY; REPORT. (a) The committee shall study the formation of a Texas Bicentennial Commission to plan this state's celebration of the 2036 bicentennial, including:

(1) the composition of the commission, the manner of appointing its members, and the total number of members; and

(2) the scope and duties of the commission.

(b) Not later than September 30, 2024, the committee shall submit a written report to each member of the legislature with recommendations on the areas of study described by Subsection (a) of this section and any other recommendations the committee considers appropriate. The committee shall submit a second report to each member of the legislature not later than September 30, 2026, covering the committee's activities performed after the date the first report is submitted.

SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The committee is abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2027.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1985 passed the Senate on April 27, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1985 passed the House on May 6, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 2, two present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor