Sec. 443.0081. HISTORICAL REPRESENTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) To ensure that the diverse history of Texas is accurately represented in the Capitol Complex, the historical representation advisory committee shall provide guidance to the board on the addition of monuments to the Capitol Complex.

(b) The advisory committee consists of the following 12 members:

(1) four members appointed by the governor;

(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) In making appointments under this section, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall attempt to include African American Texans, Hispanic American Texans, Native American Texans, female Texans, and Texans exemplifying rural heritage.

(d) The governor shall designate the presiding officer of the committee from among the members of the committee. The presiding officer serves a term of two years.

(e) A member of the advisory committee serves at the pleasure of the appointing officer and serves without compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

(f) The advisory committee shall conduct meetings the committee considers necessary to provide guidance under this section. The board shall provide necessary administrative support to the advisory committee.

(g) Subject to the approval of the board, the advisory committee shall develop its own bylaws under which it shall operate.

(h) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.

(i) The advisory committee is subject to the open meetings law, Chapter 551.

(j) The advisory committee is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the advisory committee is abolished September 1, 2007.

(k) The advisory committee shall:

(1) collect information relating to each proposed monument to the Capitol Complex; and

(2) in cooperation with the chair of the history department at Prairie View A&M University, at The University of Texas at Austin, or at any other land grant university in the state, as determined by the committee, ensure the:

(A) historical accuracy of any proposed monument; and

(B) equitable representation of all Texans, including African slaves, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, women in Texas history, and Texans exemplifying military service and rural heritage in additional monuments to the Capitol Complex.

(l) In this section, "monument" has the meaning assigned by Section 443.015, as added by Chapter 1141, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1315, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.