GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 11. STATE SYMBOLS AND HONORS; PRESERVATION
SUBTITLE A. STATE SYMBOLS AND HONORS
CHAPTER 3104. POET LAUREATE, STATE MUSICIAN, STATE HISTORIAN, AND
STATE ARTISTS
SUBCHAPTER A. POET LAUREATE, STATE MUSICIAN, AND STATE ARTISTS
Sec. 3104.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on the Arts.
(2) "Committee" means the Texas Poet Laureate, State Musician,
and State Artist Committee.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.024(a), eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 3104.002. DESIGNATING POET LAUREATE, STATE MUSICIAN, AND
STATE ARTISTS. (a) The committee shall designate:
(1) a Texas poet laureate;
(2) a Texas state musician;
(3) a Texas state artist for two-dimensional media; and
(4) a Texas state artist for three-dimensional media.
(b) The committee shall choose the poet laureate, state
musician, and state artists from a list of persons submitted by
the commission.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.024(a), eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 3104.003. COMMITTEE. (a) The committee consists of seven
members as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the governor;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and
(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives.
(b) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives must be the chair of the house committee that has
primary jurisdiction over arts and cultural matters. That member
serves on the committee as an additional duty of the
chairmanship.
(c) A member of the committee who is not a member of the
legislature serves a two-year term that expires on October 1 of
each odd-numbered year.
(d) The committee shall select a presiding officer from among
its members.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.024(a), eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 3104.004. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COMMISSION. (a) The
commission shall solicit nominations from the arts and cultural
community for the poet laureate, state musician, and state
artists. The commission shall use the commission's Texas Cultural
& Arts Network, the media, public meetings, newsletters, the
Writer's League of Texas, and other appropriate methods to
distribute information about the nomination process.
(b) The commission may receive submissions from poets,
musicians, and artists who have been nominated.
(c) The commission may assemble a group of artists, musicians,
writers, scholars, and other appropriate experts in the fields of
literature, music, and visual arts to:
(1) review the submissions from the nominated poets, musicians,
and artists; and
(2) provide advice and recommendations to the commission on who
should be considered for designation as poet laureate, state
musician, and state artists.
(d) For each category specified under Section 3104.002(a), the
commission shall submit to the committee a list of not more than
10 persons who are worthy of being designated for that category.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.024(a), eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 3104.005. DESIGNATION CEREMONY. The governor and members
of the committee shall honor the persons designated as poet
laureate, state musician, and state artists in a ceremony at the
Capitol.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.024(a), eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 3104.006. DURATION OF DESIGNATION. A person designated as
the poet laureate, the state musician, or a state artist retains
the designation for one year from the date of the designation
ceremony.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.024(a), eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 3104.007. PAY AND EMOLUMENTS PROHIBITED. A person
designated as the poet laureate, the state musician, or a state
artist does not receive any pay or emolument based on that
designation.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 9.024(a), eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS STATE HISTORIAN
Sec. 3104.051. STATE HISTORIAN. (a) The state historian shall
be appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the Texas
Historical Commission and the Texas State Historical Association.
If the entities cannot agree on a nominee, each shall submit one
candidate to the governor, who shall make the designation.
(b) In making an appointment under Subsection (a), the governor
may reject one or more of the nominees submitted and request a
new list of different nominees.
(c) The duties of the state historian shall include:
(1) enhancing the knowledge of Texans regarding Texas history
and heritage;
(2) encouraging the teaching of Texas history in public schools;
(3) consulting with the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislature on
matters related to the promotion of Texas history; and
(4) lecturing on matters of Texas history within the state
historian's area of expertise.
(d) The state historian shall not receive compensation or
reimbursement for expenses from the state for serving as state
historian.
(e) The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
the house of representatives, or their appointees, shall honor
the person designated as state historian in a ceremony at the
Capitol.
(f) An individual designated as the state historian retains the
designation for two years from the date of the ceremony.
(g) The facilities and resources of the Texas Historical
Commission in Austin shall be made available for the use of the
state historian when needed.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
427, Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2005.