HB3784 - Relating to establishing the Texas Commission for Boys and Men.

  89R23444 CXP-F     By: Frank, Dutton, Lujan H.B. No. 3784     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3784:     By:  Metcalf C.S.H.B. No. 3784       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to establishing the Texas Commission for Boys and Men.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds   that:                (1)  boys, male youth, and men increasingly experience   disparities in key indicators of well-being, including educational   achievement, workforce participation, economic prosperity,   marriage, paternal involvement, substance abuse, incarceration,   and deaths of despair, including suicide;                (2)  men who embrace their roles as husbands, fathers,   workers, providers, and community leaders are essential to a   strong, healthy Texas;                (3)  the loss of positive masculinity negatively   impacts the residents, culture, and prosperity of this state; and                (4)  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 masculinity.          SECTION 2.  TEXAS COMMISSION FOR BOYS AND MEN. (a) In this   section, "commission" means the Texas Commission for Boys and Men   established under this section.          (b)  The commission is established to promote the success and   well-being of boys, male youth, and men in this state.          (c)  The commission is composed of 11 members appointed as   follows:                (1)  five members appointed by the governor;                (2)  three members appointed by the lieutenant   governor; and                (3)  three members appointed by the speaker of the   house of representatives.          (d)  A commission member must have a 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 masculinity;                (7)  treatment of substance use disorders;                (8)  health care; and                (9)  mental health.          (e)  The appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the   commission members required by Subsection (c) of this section not   later than the 60th day after the effective date of this Act.          (f)  The governor shall designate a commission member to   serve as presiding officer.          (g)  A commission member is not entitled to compensation or   reimbursement of expenses.          (h)  The commission shall conduct a systematic study of the   conditions and issues affecting boys, male youth, and men in this   state. The study must:                (1)  identify and define the specific needs of boys,   male youth, and men;                (2)  assess issues and outcomes affecting the   well-being of boys, male youth, and men, including:                      (A)  marriage;                      (B)  family stability;                      (C)  fatherhood;                      (D)  paternal involvement;                      (E)  academic performance in primary and   secondary and postsecondary education;                      (F)  workforce participation;                      (G)  wages, income, and poverty;                      (H)  physical and mental health;                      (I)  involvement with the criminal justice   system;                      (J)  substance use and abuse;                      (K)  violence; and                      (L)  death rates;                (3)  evaluate the laws and regulations of this state   and identify laws and regulations that negatively affect the   ability of boys, male youth, and men to achieve prosperity and   realize their full potential; and                (4)  make recommendations, including changes to state   laws, policies, and programs, for improving the conditions and   outcomes described by Subdivision (2) of this subsection.          (i)  The commission may request and receive information,   data, and assistance from any state agency or department or any   political subdivision of this state in carrying out the   commission's duties.          (j)  Not later than November 1, 2026, the commission shall:                (1)  publish the results of the study required by   Subsection (h) of this section; and                (2)  prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant   governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a written   report that includes:                      (A)  the results of the study required by   Subsection (h) of this section; and                      (B)  recommendations for legislative or other   action to promote the well-being and prosperity of boys, male   youth, and men in this state and advance a culture that values   traditional, positive masculinity, including recommendations   regarding specific statutes or regulations that the commission   recommends enacting, repealing, or amending.          SECTION 3.  ABOLITION OF COMMISSION. The Texas Commission   for Boys and Men is abolished and this Act expires December 31,   2026.          SECTION 4.  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.