By: Olcott H.B. No. 5500       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the Texas Commission on the Arts; the composition and   qualifications of its governing board, expenditures for certain   fine arts projects, and the distribution of grants.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 444.003(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The commission is composed of nine members appointed by   the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.                (1)  The members must represent a diverse cross-section   of the fields of the arts and be widely known for their professional   competence and experience in connection with the arts.                (2)  At least two members must be residents of a county   with a population of less than 50,000.                (3)  Appointments to the commission shall be made   without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age,   or national origin of the appointees.          SECTION 2.  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 [and from the various racial and ethnic groups present in the   state].          SECTION 3.  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 who reflect the   geographical[, cultural, and ethnic] diversity of the state's   population.          SECTION 4.  Section 444.029(c), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  The commission shall place emphasis on works by living   Texas artists whenever feasible and, when consulting with the   governing body of a political subdivision, shall place emphasis on   works by artists who reside in or near the political subdivision.   Consideration shall be given to artists without regard to the race,   color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the   artists [of all ethnic origins].          SECTION 5.  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, 2025.