H.B. No. 4294         AN ACT   relating to the organization and efficient operation of the   legislative branch of state government through joint entities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 301.035 to read as follows:          Sec. 301.035.  JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE PER DIEM AND TRAVEL   EXPENSES. Unless a statute expressly provides otherwise, per diem   and travel expenses paid to a member of a joint committee   established by statute shall be paid by the house to which the   member belongs. The per diem and travel expenses paid to a public   member of the committee shall be paid by the office of the   appointing entity.          SECTION 2.  Section 326.001, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 326.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "legislative   agency":                (1)  means:                      (A) [(1)]  the senate;                      (B) [(2)]  the house of representatives;                      (C) [(3)]  a committee, division, department, or   office of the senate or house;                      (D) [(4)]  the Texas Legislative Council;                      (E) [(5)]  the Legislative Budget Board;                      (F) [(6)]  the Legislative Reference Library;                      (G) [(7)]  the office of the State Auditor; or                      (H) [(8)]  any other agency in the legislative   branch of state government; and                (2)  does not include the Texas Ethics Commission.          SECTION 3.  Section 326.002, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  The Texas Legislative Council may transfer money to   another legislative agency to cover expenses of the other agency   that the executive director of the council determines to be   necessary to further a purpose of the council.          SECTION 4.  Chapter 762, Government Code, is transferred to   Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, redesignated as Chapter 329,   Government Code, and amended to read as follows:   CHAPTER 329 [762]. COMMISSION ON UNIFORM STATE LAWS          Sec. 329.001 [762.001].  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Commission" means the Commission on Uniform State   Laws.                (2)  "National conference" means the National   Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.          Sec. 329.002 [762.002].  DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a) The   commission shall:                (1)  promote the uniform judicial interpretation of all   uniform laws; and                (2)  before January 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit   a biennial report to the legislature that contains an account of the   commission's transactions and its advice and recommendations for   legislation.          (b)  The commission may supplement the report.          Sec. 329.003  [762.003].  COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION; TERMS.   (a) The commission is composed of:                (1)  nine members appointed by the governor;                (2)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor,   who are members or officers of the senate;                (3)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house   of representatives, who are members or officers of the house of   representatives;                (4)  the chair of the standing committee of the senate   with primary jurisdiction over uniform state laws;                (5)  the chair of the standing committee of the house of   representatives with primary jurisdiction over uniform state laws;                (6)  the executive director of the Texas Legislative   Council or a person designated by the executive director; and                (7) [(3)]  in addition to the persons described by   Subdivisions (1) through (6) [and (2)], residents of this state who   have long service in the cause of uniformity in state legislation as   shown by:                      (A)  at least 20 years of service representing the   state as an associate member of the national conference;                      (B)  election as a life member of the national   conference; or                      (C)  at least 15 years of service as a member of   the commission and at least five years of combined service as a   judge or justice of a trial or appellate court of this state.          (b)  Appointments to the commission shall be made without   regard to the race, creed, sex, religion, or national origin of the   appointees.          (c)  Members appointed by the governor under Subsection   (a)(1) [Appointed members] serve staggered six-year terms, with the   terms of three members expiring September 30 of each even-numbered   year.          (d)  Members appointed by the lieutenant governor under   Subsection (a)(2) serve at the pleasure of the lieutenant governor.           (e)  Members appointed by the speaker of the house of   representatives under Subsection (a)(3) serve at the pleasure of   the speaker.          Sec. 329.004 [762.004].  ELIGIBILITY [FOR APPOINTMENT];   LOBBYIST RESTRICTION. (a) To be eligible for appointment to or   service on the commission, a person must be an attorney licensed to   practice law.          (b)  At least one of the commissioners, at the time of that   commissioner's appointment, must be a state judge.          (c)  At least one of the commissioners, at the time of that   commissioner's appointment, must be a legal educator.          (d)  A person required to register as a lobbyist under   Chapter 305 because of the person's activities for compensation in   or on behalf of a profession related to the operation of the   commission may not serve as a commissioner or act as general counsel   to the commission.          Sec. 329.005 [762.005].  DUTIES OF COMMISSIONERS. Each   commissioner shall:                (1)  promote uniformity in state laws in subject areas   in which uniformity is desirable and practicable; and                (2)  attend national conference meetings.          Sec. 329.006 [762.006].  VACANCY; EXPIRATION OF TERM. (a)   This section applies only to a commissioner appointed by the   governor.          (b)  The office of an appointed commissioner becomes vacant   on the death, resignation, failure or refusal to serve, or removal   of the commissioner.          (c) [(b)]  The governor shall fill a vacancy by appointing a   person to the commission for the unexpired term of the commissioner   vacating the office.          (d) [(c)]  On the vacancy or expiration of the term of office   of an appointed commissioner, the governor shall appoint a state   judge or legal educator if the appointment is required by Section   329.004(b) [762.004(b)] or (c).          Sec. 329.007 [762.008].  GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL. (a) It is a   ground for removal from the commission if a member:                (1)  did not have, at the time of appointment or   election, the qualifications required by Section 329.004   [762.004];                (2)  does not maintain the qualifications required by   Section 329.004 [762.004];                (3)  is prohibited from serving as a commissioner under   Section 329.004(d) [762.004(d)]; or                (4)  is ineligible to participate in activities of the   national conference.          (b)  The validity of an action of the commission is not   affected because it is taken when a member is subject to removal.          Sec. 329.008 [762.009].  MEETING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.   (a) The commission shall meet at least once every two years.          (b)  The commissioners shall elect a chair [chairman] and   secretary, who shall each hold office for a term of two years.          Sec. 329.009 [762.010].  COMPENSATION. A commissioner   serves without compensation but is entitled to be reimbursed for   reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the   commissioner's duties.          Sec. 329.010 [762.011].  SUPPORT SERVICES. The Texas   Legislative Council shall provide accounting, clerical, and other   support services necessary for the commission to carry out its   duties.          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, 2021.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 4294 was passed by the House on May 7,   2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not   voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.   No. 4294 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 14,   1 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 4294 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 27, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays   0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor