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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Commission on the Arts; the composition and |
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qualifications of its governing board, expenditures for certain |
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fine arts projects, and the distribution of grants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 444.003(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission is composed of nine members appointed by |
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the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. |
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(1) The members must represent a diverse cross-section |
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of the fields of the arts and be widely known for their professional |
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competence and experience in connection with the arts. |
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(2) At least two members must be residents of a county |
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with a population of less than 50,000. |
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(3) Appointments to the commission shall be made |
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without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, |
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or national origin of the appointees. |
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SECTION 2. Section 444.023(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may appoint consultants to the |
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commission. In appointing consultants, the commission shall |
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attempt to achieve representation from each geographic area of the |
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state [and from the various racial and ethnic groups present in the |
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state]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 444.024(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission by rule shall adopt equitable procedures |
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for the distribution of grants to recipients who reflect the |
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geographical[, cultural, and ethnic] diversity of the state's |
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population. |
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SECTION 4. Section 444.029(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall place emphasis on works by living |
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Texas artists whenever feasible and, when consulting with the |
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governing body of a political subdivision, shall place emphasis on |
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works by artists who reside in or near the political subdivision. |
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Consideration shall be given to artists without regard to the race, |
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color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the |
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artists [of all ethnic origins]. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |