HB5554 - Relating to the operation and management of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum by the Texas Historical Commission.

      By: Smithee H.B. No. 5554       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the operation and management of the Panhandle-Plains   Historical Museum by the Texas Historical Commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter B-3 to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER B-3. PANHANDLE-PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM           Sec.   442.067.     DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "museum"   means the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas.           Sec.   442.068.     PANHANDLE-PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM; FUND.   (a) The museum currently consists of a facility on the campus of   West Texas A&M University and a collection owned by the   Panhandle-Plains Historical Society.           (b)     To the extent authorized by law, the commission may   enter into a contract with the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society   for the operation and management of the museum. The commission may   also enter into a contract with West Texas A&M University or The   Texas A&M University System, as needed for the construction,   renovation, expansion, maintenance, or management of museum   facilities on the campus of West Texas A&M University.           (c)     The contract with the Panhandle-Plains Historical   Society authorized by this section must include provisions for:                 (1)     expanding, renovating, managing, maintaining,   operating, or providing financial support for the museum collection   and museum facility and related assets;                 (2)  preserving the museum's collection;                 (3)     employing a museum director and other employees   the commission considers necessary to fulfill its duties and   responsibilities under the contract;                 (4)     accepting donations of money, property, and   historical relics; and                 (5)     acquiring property and historical relics with   funds available for that purpose.           (d)     The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum fund is created   as a fund outside the state treasury. The commission shall   administer the fund but may contract with the Panhandle-Plains   Historical Society for administration of the fund. The fund   consists of:                 (1)     admissions revenue from the operation of the   museum;                 (2)     sales revenue from the operation of the museum   gift shop; and                 (3)  donations made to the commission for the museum.           (e)     Money in the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum fund   may be spent without legislative appropriation and only to   administer, operate, preserve, repair, expand, or otherwise   maintain the museum.           (f)     Interest and income from the assets of the   Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum fund shall be credited to and   deposited in the fund.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.003(6), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (6)  "Other agency of higher education" means The University   of Texas System, System Administration; The University of Texas at   El Paso Museum; Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute at The   University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; The Texas A&M   University System, Administrative and General Offices; Texas A&M   AgriLife Research; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service; Rodent and   Predatory Animal Control Service (a part of the Texas A&M AgriLife   Extension Service); Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station   (including the Texas A&M Transportation Institute); Texas A&M   Engineering Extension Service; Texas A&M Forest Service; Texas   Division of Emergency Management; Texas Tech University Museum;   Texas State University System, System Administration; Sam Houston   Memorial Museum;[ Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum; ] Cotton   Research Committee of Texas; Texas Water Resources Institute; Texas   A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory; and any other unit,   division, institution, or agency which shall be so designated by   statute or which may be established to operate as a component part   of any public senior college or university, or which may be so   classified as provided in this chapter.          SECTION 3.  On September 1, 2025, an employee of West Texas   A&M University assigned exclusively to the museum becomes an   employee of the commission.          SECTION 4.  Section 102.35, Education Code, is repealed.          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.