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.