HB1805 - Relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.

  89R5661 JON-D     By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1805       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 452 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 452. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COMMISSION   SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS           Sec.   452.001.     DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission"   means the Religious Freedom Commission.           Sec.   452.002.     ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission is   established within the office of the governor.           (b)  Chapter 2110 does not apply to the commission.   SUBCHAPTER B. COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS           Sec.   452.051.     COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) The governor   shall appoint seven members to the commission.           (b)     A member of the commission must be a resident of this   state.           (c)  The commission must include members who:                 (1)     have demonstrated a significant interest in and   are knowledgeable about issues related to religious liberty; or                 (2)     have served prominently as leaders of or   spokespersons for organizations that serve members of religious   communities, including the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim   communities.           Sec.   452.052.     TERMS. (a) Commission members serve   staggered six-year terms with the terms of approximately one-third   of the members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.           (b)     Commission members are eligible for reappointment to   another term or part of a term.           (c)     The governor shall fill any vacancy in a position on the   commission for the unexpired portion of the term.           Sec.   452.053.     PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall   designate a member of the commission as presiding officer of the   commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the   governor.           Sec.   452.054.     COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. A member of the   commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to   reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while   transacting commission business, as provided by the General   Appropriations Act.           Sec.   452.055.     MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The commission shall   meet at least quarterly at the times and places in this state the   commission designates.           (b)     Four members of the commission constitute a quorum for   transacting commission business.   SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES           Sec. 452.101.  DUTIES OF COMMISSION. The commission shall:                 (1)     advance the right to freedom of religion within   this state, denounce violations of that right, and recommend   appropriate responses by the legislature to the violations;                 (2)     identify system-level challenges and solutions   relating to religious liberty for all faith communities;                 (3)     serve as a principal advisor to the governor   regarding matters affecting religious freedom within this state;                 (4)  make recommendations regarding:                       (A)     local and state policies that violate freedom   of religion or that fail to ensure the individual's right to   religious belief and practice;                       (B)     policies that advance the right to freedom of   religion in this state; and                       (C)     strategies to address and prevent   faith-related bias incidents; and                 (5)     engage in education, advocacy, and outreach   efforts to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of   religious liberty.   SUBCHAPTER D. SUPPORT AND FUNDING           Sec.   452.151.     SUPPORT. The office of the governor shall   provide administrative support, including staff, to the   commission.           Sec.   452.152.     FUNDING. (a) The commission may accept gifts   and grants from a public or private source on behalf of the   commission for the commission to use in performing the duties   assigned to the commission under this chapter.           (b)     All legislative appropriations to support the functions   and activities of the commission shall be made as part of the office   of the governor's legislative appropriations request process and   disbursed to the commission.          SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the Religious   Freedom Commission as provided by Chapter 452, Government Code, as   added by this Act. To implement the staggering of terms of members   of the commission provided by Section 452.052, Government Code, as   added by this Act, in making the first appointments to the   commission, the governor shall provide for two of the members to   serve terms expiring February 1, 2027, two of the members to serve   terms expiring February 1, 2029, and three of the members to serve   terms expiring February 1, 2031. Subsequent appointments shall be   for six-year terms, as provided by Section 452.052, Government   Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.