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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Freedman's Bureau. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 473 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 473. TEXAS FREEDMAN'S BUREAU |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 473.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Bureau" means the Texas Freedman's Bureau |
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established under this chapter. |
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(2) "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the Texas |
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Freedman's Bureau. |
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(3) "Freedman" means an individual who was a freed |
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slave, under the Freedman's Bureau Act of 1865, from the period of |
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1861 to 1868 as identified by Congress. |
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Sec. 473.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF BUREAU. The Texas |
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Freedman's Bureau is established to assist the residents of this |
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state in determining their ancestry and heritage, provide |
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assistance to residents who are certified descendants of freedmen, |
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and promote the use of the term "freedmen" in demographic data |
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collected in this state. |
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Sec. 473.003. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The bureau is |
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subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in |
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existence as provided by that chapter, the bureau is abolished and |
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this chapter expires September 1, 2035. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. BUREAU |
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Sec. 473.101. COMPOSITION; TERMS; COMPENSATION. (a) The |
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bureau is composed of five commissioners appointed by the governor. |
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In making the appointments, the governor shall consider candidates |
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suggested by the Texas Volunteer Council on Freedmen Affairs. |
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(b) The commissioners serve two-year terms. |
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(c) A commissioner serves without compensation but is |
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entitled to reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred by |
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the commissioner while conducting the business of the bureau as |
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provided by the General Appropriations Act. |
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Sec. 473.102. DIRECTOR; EMPLOYEES. The bureau shall employ |
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a director for each bureau office and other employees necessary to |
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administer this chapter. |
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Sec. 473.103. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. (a) The bureau |
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is administratively attached to the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(b) The Health and Human Services Commission, using |
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existing resources, shall provide the administrative support and |
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personnel necessary for the bureau to implement this chapter. |
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Sec. 473.104. OFFICES. The bureau shall maintain an office |
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within facilities of the Health and Human Services Commission and |
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other state agencies, as appropriate, in the following counties: |
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(1) Bexar County; |
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(2) Dallas County; |
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(3) Harris County; and |
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(4) Travis County. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES |
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Sec. 473.201. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The bureau shall: |
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(1) establish and maintain a database to collect |
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demographic data for the purpose of assisting residents of this |
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state in establishing ancestral ties with freedmen; |
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(2) provide a freedmen identification card to each |
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resident who establishes ancestral ties with a freedman; |
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(3) assist residents who are descendants of freedmen |
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with obtaining reparations, including by providing legal |
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assistance with filing claims for reparations; and |
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(4) promote the use of the term "freedmen" for |
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descendants of freed slaves in all demographic data related to |
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ethnicity, nationality, or race collected by a state agency or |
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political subdivision. |
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Sec. 473.202. STRATEGIC PLAN; COLLABORATION. (a) The |
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bureau, in collaboration with other state agencies, state |
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officials, and nonprofit organizations, shall create a strategic |
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plan for implementing this chapter. |
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(b) The strategic plan must identify: |
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(1) the locations for the bureau offices; |
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(2) the resources the bureau will operate and |
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maintain; |
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(3) the bureau's plan to assist descendants of |
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freedmen with obtaining reparations; and |
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(4) the assistance required from other state agencies |
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and state officials to implement this chapter. |
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(c) The comptroller, attorney general, Department of Public |
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Safety, Parks and Wildlife Department, and other appropriate state |
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agencies and state officials shall assist the bureau as necessary |
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to implement this chapter and develop the strategic plan. |
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Sec. 473.203. RULES. The bureau and executive commissioner |
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of the Health and Human Services Commission may adopt the rules |
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necessary to implement this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the governor shall appoint the commissioners to the |
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Texas Freedman's Bureau as required by Chapter 473, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |