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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing the Texas Commission for Boys and Men. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds |
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that: |
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(1) boys, male youth, and men increasingly experience |
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disparities in key indicators of well-being, including educational |
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achievement, workforce participation, economic prosperity, |
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marriage, paternal involvement, substance abuse, incarceration, |
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and deaths of despair, including suicide; |
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(2) men who embrace their roles as husbands, fathers, |
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workers, providers, and community leaders are essential to a |
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strong, healthy Texas; |
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(3) the loss of positive masculinity negatively |
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impacts the residents, culture, and prosperity of this state; and |
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(4) it is necessary to establish a commission to |
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promote the well-being of the boys, male youth, and men of this |
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state and revitalize a culture that embraces and values |
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traditional, positive masculinity. |
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SECTION 2. TEXAS COMMISSION FOR BOYS AND MEN. (a) In this |
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section, "commission" means the Texas Commission for Boys and Men |
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established under this section. |
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(b) The commission is established to promote the success and |
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well-being of boys, male youth, and men in this state. |
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(c) The commission is composed of 11 members appointed as |
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follows: |
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(1) five members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor; and |
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(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives. |
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(d) A commission member must have a background and |
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demonstrated expertise in any of the following areas: |
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(1) economics; |
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(2) education; |
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(3) criminal justice; |
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(4) marriage and family therapy; |
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(5) fatherhood initiatives; |
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(6) promoting traditional, positive masculinity; |
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(7) treatment of substance use disorders; |
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(8) health care; and |
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(9) mental health. |
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(e) The appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the |
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commission members required by Subsection (c) of this section not |
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later than the 60th day after the effective date of this Act. |
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(f) The governor shall designate a commission member to |
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serve as presiding officer. |
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(g) A commission member is not entitled to compensation or |
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reimbursement of expenses. |
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(h) The commission shall conduct a systematic study of the |
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conditions and issues affecting boys, male youth, and men in this |
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state. The study must: |
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(1) identify and define the specific needs of boys, |
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male youth, and men; |
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(2) assess issues and outcomes affecting the |
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well-being of boys, male youth, and men, including: |
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(A) marriage; |
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(B) family stability; |
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(C) fatherhood; |
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(D) paternal involvement; |
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(E) academic performance in primary and |
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secondary and postsecondary education; |
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(F) workforce participation; |
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(G) wages, income, and poverty; |
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(H) physical and mental health; |
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(I) involvement with the criminal justice |
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system; |
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(J) substance use and abuse; |
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(K) violence; and |
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(L) death rates; |
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(3) evaluate the laws and regulations of this state |
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and identify laws and regulations that negatively affect the |
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ability of boys, male youth, and men to achieve prosperity and |
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realize their full potential; and |
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(4) make recommendations, including changes to state |
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laws, policies, and programs, for improving the conditions and |
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outcomes described by Subdivision (2) of this subsection. |
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(i) The commission may request and receive information, |
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data, and assistance from any state agency or department or any |
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political subdivision of this state in carrying out the |
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commission's duties. |
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(j) Not later than November 1, 2026, the commission shall: |
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(1) publish the results of the study required by |
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Subsection (h) of this section; and |
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(2) prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a written |
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report that includes: |
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(A) the results of the study required by |
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Subsection (h) of this section; and |
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(B) recommendations for legislative or other |
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action to promote the well-being and prosperity of boys, male |
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youth, and men in this state and advance a culture that values |
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traditional, positive masculinity, including recommendations |
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regarding specific statutes or regulations that the commission |
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recommends enacting, repealing, or amending. |
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SECTION 3. ABOLITION OF COMMISSION. The Texas Commission |
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for Boys and Men is abolished and this Act expires December 31, |
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2026. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |