89R16458 CS-F     By: Campbell S.B. No. 2369       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to provisions of state law requiring diversity.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 5.102, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 5.102.  RECRUITMENT.  For the purpose of providing   adequate personnel for all job positions in the commission, the   commission shall[:                [(1)]  develop a recruiting program that identifies   applicants that have the background and experience suitable for   performing the responsibilities of the applicable job position with   the commission [underrepresentation with the commission and   focuses on recruiting different ethnic, racial, or gender groups   for job categories in which underrepresentation occurs; and                [(2)  require that all applicants be reviewed by the   human resources division to ensure consideration of   underrepresented ethnic, racial, or gender groups].          SECTION 2.  Section 12.015(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The membership of the charter commission must reflect   the [racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and] geographic diversity of   the district.  A majority of the members appointed to the commission   must be parents of school-age children attending public school.  At   least 25 percent of the commission must be classroom teachers   selected by the representatives of the professional staff pursuant   to Section 11.251(e).          SECTION 3.  Sections 21.004(a) and (c), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  To the extent that funds are available, the agency, the   State Board for Educator Certification, and the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board shall develop and implement programs   to identify talented students and recruit those students and   persons, including high school and undergraduate students,   mid-career and retired professionals, and honorably discharged and   retired military personnel [, and members of underrepresented   gender and ethnic groups], into the teaching profession.          (c)  The commissioner, in cooperation with the commissioner   of higher education and the executive director of the State Board   for Educator Certification, shall annually identify the need for   teachers in specific subject areas and geographic regions [and   among underrepresented groups].  The commissioner shall give   priority to developing and implementing recruitment programs to   address those needs from the agency's discretionary funds.          SECTION 4.  Section 51.4032, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 51.4032.  ANNUAL REPORT OF PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER   EDUCATION.  Not later than December 1 of each year and in the form   prescribed by the coordinating board, each general academic   teaching institution and medical and dental unit as defined in   Section 61.003 shall provide to the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board and shall publish on the institution's website a   report describing the composition of the institution's entering   class of students.  The report must include a demographic breakdown   of the class, including a breakdown by race, ethnicity, economic   status, and high school class standing.  A report submitted by a   general academic teaching institution or medical and dental unit as   defined in Section 61.003 must include separate demographic   breakdowns of the students admitted under Sections 51.803, 51.804,   and 51.805 [and a description of any plans, policies, or programs   developed or implemented by the institution to recruit and retain   students from underrepresented groups such as racial or ethnic   minority groups].          SECTION 5.  Section 264.2041, Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 264.2041.  CULTURAL AWARENESS.  The department shall:                (1)  develop and deliver cultural competency training   to all service delivery staff;                (2)  increase targeted recruitment efforts for foster   and adoptive families who can meet the needs of children and youth   who are waiting for permanent homes; and                (3)  [target recruitment efforts to ensure diversity   among department staff; and                [(4)]  develop collaborative partnerships with   community groups, agencies, faith-based organizations, and other   community organizations to provide culturally competent services   to children and families of every race and ethnicity.          SECTION 6.  Section 264.502(d), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (d)  Members selected under Subsection (b) must reflect the   geographical [, cultural, racial, and ethnic] diversity of the   state.          SECTION 7.  Section 157.051(c), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  Members shall be appointed without regard to race,   color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin.  The   membership of the advisory board must reflect the geographical [and   cultural] diversity of the state.          SECTION 8.  Section 403.1042(f), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (f)  An individual or entity authorized to make an   appointment to the advisory committee created under this section:                (1)  shall attempt to appoint persons who represent the   [gender composition, minority populations, and] geographic regions   of the state; and                (2)  may not consider a person's race, color,   disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin when making an   appointment to the committee.          SECTION 9.  Section 403.503(d), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (d)  In making appointments under Subsection (b), the   governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of   representatives, and attorney general shall coordinate to ensure   that the membership of the council reflects, to the extent   possible, the [ethnic and] geographic diversity of this state.          SECTION 10.  Section 444.023(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The commission may appoint consultants to the   commission.  In appointing consultants, the commission shall   attempt to achieve representation from each geographic area of the   state without consideration of the consultant's race, color,   disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin [and from the   various racial and ethnic groups present in the state].          SECTION 11.  Section 444.024(c), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  The commission by rule shall adopt equitable procedures   for the distribution of grants to recipients:                (1)  without regard to the race, color, disability,   sex, religion, age, or national origin of the recipients; and                (2)  who reflect the geographical [, cultural, and   ethnic] diversity of this state [the state's population].          SECTION 12.  Section 467.035(c), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  In employing the executive director and other   employees, the commission may not consider a person's [shall strive   to reflect the diversity of the population of the state as regards]   race, color, disability [handicap], sex, religion, age, or [and]   national origin.          SECTION 13.  Section 482.606(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  In making appointments under Subsection (a), the   governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of   representatives, respectively, shall:                (1)  prioritize appointing individuals with experience   in:                      (A)  aeronautics;                      (B)  space economic development; and                      (C)  academic engagement with the space economy;   and                (2)  ensure that the appointments reflect, to the   extent possible, the [ethnic and] geographic diversity of this   state.          SECTION 14.  Section 651.009(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  In each case in which the governing body of a state   board, commission, or other state agency that has statewide   jurisdiction is appointed by the governor or another appointing   authority, the governor or appointing authority shall ensure that,   to the extent possible, the membership of the governing body   reflects the [racial, ethnic, and] geographic diversity of this   state.          SECTION 15.  Section 2166.404(c), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (c)  The Industry Advisory Committee is composed of nine   members who are Texas residents appointed by the commission.  Three   members must be nursery-product growers, three members must be   turf-growers, and three members must be landscape contractors.  The   commission shall make appointments from a list of recommendations   submitted to the commission by the Texas Association of Nurserymen   for the nursery-product-grower positions, the Texas Turf   Association for the turf-grower positions, and the Texas   Association of Landscape Contractors for the landscape-contractor   positions.  Appointments are for staggered three-year terms   arranged so that one person from each group is appointed each year.     Appointments to the committee shall be made without regard to a   person's race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national   origin [The appointments to the committee must reflect this state's   gender and ethnic diversity].          SECTION 16.  Section 2306.027(b), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  Appointments to the board shall be made without regard   to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national   origin of the appointees and shall be made in a manner that produces   representation on the board of the different geographical regions   of this state.  Appointments to the board must broadly reflect the   geographic [, economic, cultural, and social] diversity of the   state [, including ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities,   and women].          SECTION 17.  Section 2308.255(b), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The appointments must:                (1)  be consistent with the local government agreement   and applicable federal and state law; and                (2)  reflect the [ethnic and] geographic diversity of   the workforce development area.          SECTION 18.  Section 40.022(b), Human Resources Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  Appointments to the council shall be made so that each   geographic area of the state is represented on the council.     [Notwithstanding Subsection (a), appointments to the council must   reflect the ethnic diversity of this state.]          SECTION 19.  Section 102.101(c), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (c)  The members of the oversight committee must represent   the geographic [and cultural] diversity of the state.          SECTION 20.  Section 534.003(c), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (c)  When the center is established, the governing bodies   shall enter into a contract that stipulates the number of board   members and the group from which the members are chosen.  They may   renegotiate or amend the contract as necessary to change the:                (1)  method of choosing the members; or                (2)  membership of the board of trustees to more   accurately reflect the [ethnic and] geographic diversity of the   local service area.          SECTION 21.  Section 534.004(b), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The local agency or organizational combination of local   agencies that appoints the board of trustees shall, in appointing   the members, attempt to reflect the [ethnic and] geographic   diversity of the local service area the community center serves.     The local agency or organizational combination shall include on the   board of trustees one or more persons otherwise qualified under   this chapter who are consumers of the types of services the center   provides or who are family members of consumers of the types of   services the center provides.          SECTION 22.  Section 672.002(g), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (g)  Members selected under Subsection (e) must reflect the   geographical [, cultural, racial, ethnic, and gender] diversity of   the county or counties represented.          SECTION 23.  Section 674.002(c), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (c)  A review team must be composed of [culturally diverse]   members representing multiple disciplines, including professionals   and representatives of agencies that provide services or community   resources for families in the community and community   representatives.  The review team may include:                (1)  a physician, including a pediatrician, an   obstetrician, or a physician practicing in another relevant   specialty;                (2)  a registered nurse;                (3)  a certified nurse-midwife or licensed midwife;                (4)  a county attorney or a designee of a county   attorney;                (5)  a representative of a school district;                (6)  a representative of the local health department;                (7)  a forensic pathologist;                (8)  a mental health professional;                (9)  a representative from a local hospital;                (10)  a local registrar of births and deaths;                (11)  a person working in a supervisory position in   local administration of the state Medicaid program;                (12)  a person working with local implementation of the   Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and   Children;                (13)  an educator;                (14)  a pastoral counselor;                (15)  a member of the health committee of a chamber of   commerce; and                (16)  other community representatives.          SECTION 24.  Section 318.003(a), Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The commission must be composed of at least seven   residents of the county.  Members of the commission must be   individuals who broadly reflect the [age, ethnic, and] geographic   diversity of the county.          SECTION 25.  Section 901.654, Occupations Code, is amended   by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as   follows:          (b)  In determining what best promotes the public purpose,   the board shall consider at a minimum the following factors   relating to each person applying for a scholarship under this   section:                (1)  financial need; and                (2)  [ethnic or racial minority status; and                [(3)]  scholastic ability and performance in at least   15 hours of upper-level accounting coursework.          (c)  In determining what best promotes the public purpose,   the board may not consider the race, color, disability, sex,   religion, age, or national origin of the applicant.          SECTION 26.  Section 901.659(a), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The board shall adopt rules to encourage internships for   [minority and disadvantaged] students and certified public   accountant examination candidates who notify the board not later   than 90 days after the date of being accepted into an accounting   internship program.          SECTION 27.  Section 901.660(b), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The report expenses shall be included in the   administrative costs allocated to the board under Section 901.155.     The report must include [:                [(1)]  the number and amount of scholarships awarded in   the two calendar years preceding the year in which the report is due   [; and                [(2)  the number of minority students, by racial or   ethnic background, who have been awarded scholarships under the   program in that two-year period].          SECTION 28.  Section 2022.052(b), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The commission shall employ the executive director and   other employees without [to reflect the diversity of the state's   population with] regard to race, color, disability, sex, religion,   age, and national origin.          SECTION 29.  Section 201.9025(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The Texas Department of Transportation Bicycle Advisory   Committee shall advise and make recommendations to the commission   on the development of bicycle tourism trails in this state.     Recommendations on bicycle tourism trails developed under this   section:                (1)  shall be made in consultation with the Parks and   Wildlife Commission and the Texas Economic Development and Tourism   Office;                (2)  shall reflect the geography, scenery, and history   [, and cultural diversity] of this state;                (3)  shall maximize federal and private sources of   funding for the designation, construction, improvement,   maintenance, and signage of the trails and the promotion of bicycle   tourism; and                (4)  may include multiuse trails to accommodate   equestrians, pedestrians, and other nonmotorized trail users when   practicable.          SECTION 30.  The following provisions of law are repealed:                (1)  Section 72.041, Government Code; and                (2)  Sections 603.051(b) and 901.659(b), Occupations   Code.          SECTION 31.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.