By: Frank H.B. No. 3784

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Texas Commission for Boys and Men.

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

SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. (a) The legislature finds that boys, male youth, and men increasingly experience disparities in key indicators of well-being, including educational achievement, workforce participation, economic prosperity, marriage, father involvement, substance abuse, incarceration, suicide, and deaths of despair.

(b) The legislature finds that men who embrace their roles as husbands, fathers, workers, providers, and community leaders are essential to a strong, healthy Texas.

(c) The legislature finds that the loss of positive manhood negatively impacts the citizens, culture, and prosperity of this state.

(d) The legislature finds that it is necessary to establish a commission to promote the well-being of the boys, male youth, and men of this state and revitalize a culture that embraces and values traditional, positive manhood.

SECTION 2. THE TEXAS COMMISSION FOR BOYS AND MEN. (a) A commission is created to promote the success and well-being of boys, male youth, and men in this state.

(b) The commission shall conduct a systematic study of the conditions and issues affecting boys, male youth, and men in this state. The study shall:

(1) Identify and define the specific needs of boys, male youth, and men;

(2) Assess issues impacting the well-being of boys, male youth, and men in the areas of:

(A) marriage;

(B) family stability;

(C) fatherhood and father involvement;

(D) school performance in all grade levels and postsecondary education;

(E) workforce participation;

(F) wages, income, and poverty;

(G) physical and mental health;

(H) involvement with the criminal justice system;

(I) substance use and abuse;

(J) violence; and

(K) death rates;

(3) evaluate the laws and regulations of this state and identify those that negatively impact the ability of boys, male youth, and men to achieve prosperity and realize their full potential; and

(4) make recommendations for alleviating conditions identified and improving outcomes in the areas described in subsection (b)(2), including changes to the laws, policies, and programs of this state.

(c) The commission is composed of eleven members appointed as follows:

(1) five members appointed by the governor;

(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d) Commission members should have background and demonstrated expertise in any of the following areas:

(1) economics;

(2) education;

(3) criminal justice;

(4) marriage and family therapy;

(5) fatherhood initiatives;

(6) promoting traditional, positive manhood;

(7) treatment of substance use disorders;

(8) healthcare; and

(9) mental health.

(e) The governor shall designate one member of the commission to serve as the presiding officer of the commission.

(f) The commission may request and receive information, assistance, and data from any state agency or department or any political subdivision of this state.

(g) A member of the commission is not entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

(h) Not later than November 1, 2026, the commission shall publish the study required by subsection (b) and make recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives for policies, programs, and strategies for promoting the well-being and prosperity of boys, male youth, and men in this state and advancing a culture that values traditional, positive manhood. The commission shall include in its recommendations specific statutes or regulations that the commission recommends enacting, repealing, or amending.

SECTION 3. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the members of the commission created under this Act.

SECTION 4. ABOLITION OF COMMISSION. The commission is abolished and this Act expires December 31, 2026.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.