88R14005 JON-D
 
  By: Oliverson H.B. No. 4572
 
 
 
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. 452.071.  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. 452.072.  SUPPORT. The office of the governor shall
  provide administrative support, including staff, to the
  commission.
         Sec. 452.073.  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, 2025, two of the members to serve
  terms expiring February 1, 2027, and three of the members to serve
  terms expiring February 1, 2029. 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, 2023.