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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operations and functions of the Veterans' Land |
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Board and the sunset review date for and programs administered by |
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the board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 161.0111, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.0111. SUNSET PROVISION. The Veterans' Land Board |
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is subject to review under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas |
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Sunset Act), but is not abolished under that chapter. The board |
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shall be reviewed during the period in which state agencies |
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abolished in 2031 are reviewed [2019] and every 12th year after that |
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[2019 are reviewed]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 161, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0141 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.0141. SEPARATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. The board |
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shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the |
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policy-making responsibilities of the board and the management |
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responsibilities of the executive secretary, assistant executive |
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secretary, and staff of the board. |
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SECTION 3. Section 161.023, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The training program must provide the person with |
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information regarding: |
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(1) the law governing board operations [the
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legislation that created the board]; |
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(2) the programs, functions, rules, and budget of the |
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board; |
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(3) the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking |
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authority of the board; |
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(4) the results of the most recent formal audit of the |
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board; |
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(5) [(4)] the requirements of: |
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(A) laws relating to open meetings, public |
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information, administrative procedure, and disclosure of conflicts |
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of interest; and |
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(B) other laws applicable to members of a state |
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policy-making body in performing their duties; and |
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(6) [(5)] any applicable ethics policies adopted by |
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the board or the Texas Ethics Commission. |
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(d) The commissioner shall create a training manual that |
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includes the information required by Subsection (b). The |
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commissioner shall distribute a copy of the training manual |
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annually to each member of the board. On receipt of the training |
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manual, each member of the board shall sign and submit to the |
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commissioner a statement acknowledging receipt of the training |
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manual. |
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SECTION 4. Section 161.031(a), Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The executive secretary or his or her designee shall |
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prepare and maintain a written plan to assure implementation of a |
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program of equal employment opportunity whereby all personnel |
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transactions are made without regard to race, color, disability |
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[handicap], sex, religion, age, or national origin. The plan shall |
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include: |
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(1) a comprehensive analysis which meets federal and |
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state guidelines of all the agency's work force by race, sex, ethnic |
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origin, class of position, and salary or wages; |
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(2) plans for recruitment, evaluation, selection, |
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appointment, training, promotion, and other personnel policies; |
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(3) procedures by which a determination can be made of |
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significant underutilization in the agency work force of all |
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persons for whom federal and state guidelines encourage a more |
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equitable balance and steps reasonably designed to overcome any |
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identified underutilization; and |
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(4) objectives and goals, with appropriate timetables |
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for the achievement of the objectives and goals, assignments of |
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responsibility for their achievement, and an appropriate program |
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for reviewing and maintaining these goals and objectives once |
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achieved. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, Section 161.023, Natural Resources Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies to a member of the Veterans' Land Board appointed |
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before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) A member of the Veterans' Land Board who, before the |
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effective date of this Act, completed the training program required |
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by Section 161.023, Natural Resources Code, as that law existed |
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before the effective date of this Act, is required to complete |
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additional training only on subjects added by this Act to the |
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training program as required by Section 161.023, Natural Resources |
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Code, as amended by this Act. A board member described by this |
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subsection may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in |
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attendance at a meeting of the board held on or after December 1, |
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2019, until the member completes the additional training. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |