Bill Text: TX HB3257 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-16 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB3257 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB3257-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-16 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB3257 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB3257-Introduced.html
87R5013 MWC-D | ||
By: King of Parker | H.B. No. 3257 |
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relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Antisemitism. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended | ||
by adding Chapter 448 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 448. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM | ||
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS | ||
Sec. 448.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
(1) "Antisemitism" means a certain perception of Jews | ||
that may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. The term includes | ||
rhetorical and physical acts of antisemitism directed toward Jewish | ||
or non-Jewish individuals or their property or toward Jewish | ||
community institutions and religious facilities. | ||
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on | ||
Antisemitism. | ||
Sec. 448.002. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Commission on | ||
Antisemitism is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless | ||
continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission | ||
is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2033. | ||
Sec. 448.003. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The commission is | ||
administratively attached to the Texas Historical Commission. | ||
SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM | ||
Sec. 448.051. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) The governor | ||
shall appoint nine members to the commission. | ||
(b) A member of the commission must be a resident of this | ||
state. | ||
(c) The commission must include members who have | ||
demonstrated a significant interest in and are knowledgeable about | ||
issues in the Jewish community and antisemitism. | ||
Sec. 448.052. TERMS. (a) Commission members serve | ||
staggered six-year terms with the terms of three members expiring | ||
February 1 of each odd-numbered year. | ||
(b) A commission member is eligible for reappointment to | ||
another term or part of a term. | ||
(c) A commission member may not serve more than two | ||
consecutive terms. For purposes of this subsection, a member is | ||
considered to have served a term only if the member served two or | ||
more years of the member's term. | ||
Sec. 448.053. 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. 448.054. 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. 448.055. MEETINGS; QUORUM; PUBLIC ACCESS. (a) The | ||
commission shall meet at least quarterly at the times and places in | ||
this state the commission designates. | ||
(b) Five voting members of the commission constitute a | ||
quorum for transacting commission business. | ||
(c) The commission shall develop and implement policies | ||
that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear | ||
before the commission and speak on any issue under the jurisdiction | ||
of the commission. | ||
Sec. 448.056. COORDINATOR; STAFF. (a) The Texas | ||
Historical Commission shall provide one part-time employee to serve | ||
as the coordinator for the commission to transact commission | ||
business. | ||
(b) The Texas Historical Commission may provide staff and | ||
may support functions and activities of the commission from money | ||
available to the Texas Historical Commission that may be used for | ||
this purpose. The legislature may also specifically appropriate | ||
money to the Texas Historical Commission to provide staff and to | ||
otherwise support functions and activities of the commission. | ||
SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES AND FUNDING | ||
Sec. 448.101. ADVISORY STATUS OF COMMISSION. (a) In | ||
implementing its powers and duties under this chapter, the | ||
commission functions only in an advisory capacity. Membership on | ||
the commission does not constitute a public office. | ||
(b) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the commission. | ||
Sec. 448.102. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission | ||
shall: | ||
(1) conduct a study on antisemitism in this state and | ||
submit a report on the results of the study to the governor, the | ||
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, | ||
and each member of the legislature not later than November 1 of each | ||
even-numbered year; | ||
(2) provide advice and assistance to public and | ||
private primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher | ||
education in this state regarding methods of combating | ||
antisemitism; | ||
(3) meet with appropriate representatives of public | ||
and private organizations, including service organizations, to | ||
provide information on and to assist in planning, coordinating, or | ||
modifying antisemitism awareness programs; and | ||
(4) solicit volunteers to participate in | ||
commemorative events designed to enhance public awareness of the | ||
fight against antisemitism. | ||
(b) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary for its | ||
own procedures. | ||
Sec. 448.103. FUNDING; AFFILIATED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. | ||
(a) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations from a | ||
public or private source for the commission to use in performing the | ||
commission's duties under this chapter. | ||
(b) The commission may participate in the establishment and | ||
operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is | ||
to raise funds for or provide services or other benefits to the | ||
commission. | ||
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the Texas | ||
Commission on Antisemitism as provided by Chapter 448, Government | ||
Code, as added by this Act. To implement the staggering of terms of | ||
members of the commission provided by Section 448.052, Government | ||
Code, as added by this Act, in making the first appointments to the | ||
commission, the governor shall provide for three of the members to | ||
serve terms expiring February 1, 2023, three of the members to serve | ||
terms expiring February 1, 2025, and three of the members to serve | ||
terms expiring February 1, 2027. Subsequent appointments shall be | ||
for six-year terms, as provided by Section 448.052, Government | ||
Code, as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |