HB4405 - Relating to a commission to coordinate celebrations of the bicentennial anniversary of Texas' independence.

  89R11851 MCK-F     By: Cain H.B. No. 4405       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a commission to coordinate celebrations of the   bicentennial anniversary of Texas' independence.          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. TEXAS 2036 BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION             Sec.   452.001.     DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission"   means the Texas 2036 Bicentennial Commission.           Sec.   452.002.     COMMISSION. (a)   The Texas 2036 Bicentennial   Commission is composed of the following 23 members appointed as   follows:                 (1)     nine members of the public appointed by the   governor with the advice and consent of the senate;                 (2)     three senators appointed by the lieutenant   governor;                 (3)     three members of the house of representatives   appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and                 (4)  the following ex officio members:                       (A)     the executive head of the Texas Economic   Development and Tourism Office within the office of the governor;                       (B)     the executive director of the Texas   Historical Commission;                       (C)     the executive director of the Texas   Commission on the Arts;                       (D)  the director of the Texas Film Commission;                       (E)  the commissioner of education;                       (F)  the commissioner of higher education;                       (G)     the director of the travel information   division of the Texas Department of Transportation; and                       (H)     the director of the Institute of Texan   Cultures at The University of Texas at San Antonio.           (b)     The public members appointed by the governor must   reflect the diverse geographic regions and population groups of   this state.           (c)     Each member of the commission is a voting member.   The   duties performed by an ex officio member of the commission   constitute additional duties of the underlying position that   qualifies the member for service on the commission.           (d)     A member of the commission who is a senator or   representative vacates the member's position if the member ceases   to hold the underlying position that qualifies the member for   service on the commission.           (e)     A public member shall serve until a successor is   appointed and qualified.           (f)     A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be   filled for the unexpired term in the manner provided for the   original appointment.           Sec.   452.003.     TERMS. Appointed members of the commission   serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of three members   appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the lieutenant   governor, and one member appointed by the speaker of the house of   representatives expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year.           Sec.   452.004.     PRESIDING OFFICER. (a)   The governor shall   appoint one member of the commission to serve as presiding officer.   The presiding officer serves at the will of the governor.           (b)     If the presiding officer is absent from a meeting or is   disabled, the members of the commission present at the meeting   shall elect a temporary presiding officer by majority vote.           Sec.   452.005.     MEETINGS; QUORUM.   (a)   The commission shall   meet at least quarterly and at other times at the call of the   presiding officer or as provided by commission rule.           (b)  Chapter 551 applies to the commission.           (c)  Thirteen members of the commission constitute a quorum.           Sec.   452.006.     COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. (a)   A member   of the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the   commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and   necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties,   subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement provided by   the General Appropriations Act.           (b)     A member appointed by the governor shall be reimbursed   from the commission's funds. A member appointed by the lieutenant   governor or speaker of the house of representatives shall be   reimbursed from the appropriate fund of the member's chamber of the   legislature. An ex officio member shall be reimbursed from the   funds of the entity from which the member serves.           Sec.   452.007.     EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; STAFF. (a)   The   commission may employ an executive director to serve as the   executive head of the commission and perform its administrative   functions.           (b)     The executive director may employ staff necessary to   administer the commission.           Sec.   452.008.     POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION. The   commission shall:                 (1)     encourage individuals, private organizations, and   local governmental bodies to organize activities celebrating the   bicentennial of this state's independence;                 (2)     assist individuals, private organizations, and   local governmental bodies that organize bicentennial activities to   coordinate the activities;                 (3)     gather and disseminate information to the public   about bicentennial activities conducted in the state;                 (4)     develop standards for bicentennial activities   organized by individuals, private organizations, and local   governmental bodies and sanction activities that comply with the   standards;                 (5)     invite national and international dignitaries to   attend and participate in bicentennial activities conducted in this   state;                 (6)     encourage persons living outside the state to   attend bicentennial activities occurring in the state;                 (7)     develop a logo to be used by the commission and   permit other persons to use the logo if the commission considers the   use appropriate; and                 (8)     sanction products the commission may sell,   including a commemorative calendar or flag, commemorating the   state's bicentennial.           Sec.   452.009.     REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2037, the   commission shall file a report with the governor and the   legislature containing information about the effects of the   bicentennial activities conducted in this state on the state's   economy.           Sec.   452.010.     DONATIONS; GRANTS. The commission may   solicit and accept, on behalf of the state, gifts, grants, and   donations from any source to be used by the commission to perform   its duties.           Sec.   452.011.     RULES. The commission may adopt rules   necessary to perform its functions.           Sec.   452.012.     EXPIRATION. The commission is abolished and   this chapter expires September 1, 2037.          SECTION 2.  (a)  Not later than December 1, 2025, the   governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of   representatives shall appoint the initial members to the Texas 2036   Bicentennial Commission in accordance with Section 452.002,   Government Code, as added by this Act.          (b)  Notwithstanding Section 452.003, Government Code, as   added by this Act, in making the initial appointments to the Texas   2036 Bicentennial Commission under Subsection (a) of this section:                (1)  the governor shall designate three members for   terms expiring January 31, 2027, three members for terms expiring   January 31, 2029, and three members for terms expiring January 31,   2031;                (2)  the lieutenant governor shall designate one member   for a term expiring January 31, 2027, one member for a term expiring   January 31, 2029, and one member for a term expiring January 31,   2031; and                (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives shall   designate one member for a term expiring January 31, 2027, one   member for a term expiring January 31, 2029, and one member for a   term expiring January 31, 2031.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.