By: Lucio, Rodríguez S.B. No. 459
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Advisory Council on Cultural
  Affairs in the office of the governor.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 470 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 470.  ADVISORY COUNCIL ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS
         Sec. 470.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Council" means the Advisory Council on Cultural
  Affairs.
               (2)  "State agency" includes an institution of higher
  education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
         Sec. 470.002.  ESTABLISHMENT. The Advisory Council on
  Cultural Affairs is established in the office of the governor to
  advise the office on furthering the economic, social, legal, and
  political contributions and equality of the Hispanic population of
  this state.
         Sec. 470.003.  COMPOSITION; TERMS.  (a)  The council is
  composed of nine members appointed as follows:
               (1)  one ex officio member of the legislature appointed
  by the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (2)  one ex officio member of the legislature appointed
  by the lieutenant governor; and
               (3)  seven members appointed by the governor.
         (b)  Members appointed by the speaker of the house and the
  lieutenant governor serve two-year terms.  Members appointed by the
  governor serve four-year staggered terms, with either three or four
  members' terms expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
         (c)  In making appointments to the council, the appointing
  officials shall attempt to achieve geographic representation of the
  Hispanic population from all areas of the state.
         (d)  The governor shall designate the chair and vice chair of
  the council from among the members of the council.
         Sec. 470.004.  MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
  quarterly each fiscal year.  The council may hold meetings by
  conference call.
         Sec. 470.005.  COMPENSATION. A member of the council is not
  entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses incurred in
  performing council duties.
         Sec. 470.006.  DUTIES. The council shall:
               (1)  monitor existing programs and legislation
  designed to meet the needs of the Hispanic population;
               (2)  serve as a liaison between the Hispanic community
  and the office of the governor and other governmental entities;
               (3)  facilitate meetings with the Hispanic Caucus of
  the senate, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the house of
  representatives, and the office of the governor to address the
  legislative needs of the Hispanic population;
               (4)  assist the secretary of state in inviting public
  and business leaders from Spanish-speaking countries to the state;
               (5)  recommend Hispanics to serve on appointed state
  boards and commissions;
               (6)  work with the state demographer to assess the
  demographic indicators and milestones of the Hispanic population;
               (7)  collaborate with business organizations,
  stakeholders, and the Texas Workforce Commission to review state
  and local policies that affect business creation and expansion in
  order to develop policy recommendations for:
                     (A)  streamlining or eliminating unnecessary
  barriers to business creation, retention, and expansion in order to
  develop greater entrepreneurship opportunities that will benefit
  the Hispanic population and Hispanic-owned businesses in high-need
  areas;
                     (B)  creating a better business climate to
  increase job creation, retention, and expansion opportunities for
  small and Hispanic-owned businesses;
                     (C)  assisting in revitalizing the industrial,
  manufacturing, and high technology sectors of the state's economy
  to better address the needs of the Hispanic workforce; and
                     (D)  strengthening employment opportunities to
  more effectively increase participation of Hispanics in
  well-paying jobs and lower the unemployment rate within the
  Hispanic population;
               (8)  analyze the employment policies and practices of
  employers in the public and private sectors in order to develop
  recommendations on improving equal opportunity and treatment for
  the Hispanic population and other minorities in employment;
               (9)  evaluate the development of methods and
  initiatives to assure fuller employment options and greater
  employment opportunities for Hispanics;
               (10)  work with the education community and the private
  sector to develop appropriate recommendations and initiatives
  relating to the following goals:
                     (A)  retaining Hispanic students in public
  schools by decreasing the dropout rate;
                     (B)  closing the education achievement gap;
                     (C)  furthering the accomplishments of Hispanics
  enrolled in institutions of higher education;
                     (D)  increasing work-study, mentorship, and
  financial assistance for Hispanic students;
                     (E)  informing Hispanics about nontraditional
  education and employment opportunities; and
                     (F)  evaluating programs designed to provide
  equal educational opportunities to the Hispanic population, as
  mandated by state and federal law;
               (11)  review licensing and regulation requirements in
  the state in order to:
                     (A)  determine the effect of those requirements on
  the Hispanic population's ability to enter into chosen occupations
  and to compete in the free market; and
                     (B)  develop recommendations to eliminate
  burdensome licensing requirements that negatively affect job
  growth and creation within the Hispanic community and other
  constituencies;
               (12)  work with health and medical experts in the
  private sector and at institutions of higher education to identify
  pressing fundamental health concerns of the Hispanic population;
               (13)  address equal treatment of the Hispanic
  population in the educational, judicial, and health systems by:
                     (A)  analyzing the application to the Hispanic
  population of the laws of this state that govern those systems;
                     (B)  monitoring the implementation of laws that
  affect the legal rights and duties of the Hispanic population; and
                     (C)  educating members of the Hispanic population
  about their legal rights and duties; and
               (14)  study and research any other related matter of
  importance to the council or the governor.
         Sec. 470.007.  RECOMMENDATIONS. (a)  The council shall
  submit a report of the council's recommendations to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
  not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year.
         (b)  The council shall include in the report recommendations
  about:
               (1)  the status and funding of state programs designed
  to address the needs of the Hispanic population; and
               (2)  reforms, policies, and statutory changes to
  further the economic, social, legal, and political contributions of
  Hispanics in the state.
         Sec. 470.008.  EXEMPTION. Chapter 2110 does not apply to the
  council.
         Sec. 470.009.  ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES. State agencies
  and political subdivisions of this state shall cooperate with the
  council to the greatest extent practicable to fully implement the
  council's statutory duties.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than October 1, 2015, the speaker of
  the house of representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the
  governor shall appoint the members of the Advisory Council on
  Cultural Affairs established by Chapter 470, Government Code, as
  added by this Act.  In appointing the initial members of the
  council, the governor shall appoint three persons to terms expiring
  February 1, 2017, and four to terms expiring February 1, 2019.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2015.