HB 3784

89R23444 CXP-F
		By: Frank, Dutton, Lujan
  H.B. No. 3784
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3784:
  By:  Metcalf
  C.S.H.B. No. 3784
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to establishing the Texas Commission for Boys and Men.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.  The legislature finds
  that:
               (1)  boys, male youth, and men increasingly experience
  disparities in key indicators of well-being, including educational
  achievement, workforce participation, economic prosperity,
  marriage, paternal involvement, substance abuse, incarceration,
  and deaths of despair, including suicide;
               (2)  men who embrace their roles as husbands, fathers,
  workers, providers, and community leaders are essential to a
  strong, healthy Texas;
               (3)  the loss of positive masculinity negatively
  impacts the residents, culture, and prosperity of this state; and
               (4)  it is necessary to establish a commission to
  promote the well-being of the boys, male youth, and men of this
  state and revitalize a culture that embraces and values
  traditional, positive masculinity.
         SECTION 2.  TEXAS COMMISSION FOR BOYS AND MEN.  (a)  In this
  section, "commission" means the Texas Commission for Boys and Men
  established under this section.
         (b)  The commission is established to promote the success and
  well-being of boys, male youth, and men in this state.
         (c)  The commission is composed of 11 members appointed as
  follows:
               (1)  five members 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.
         (d)  A commission member must have a background and
  demonstrated expertise in any of the following areas:
               (1)  economics;
               (2)  education;
               (3)  criminal justice;
               (4)  marriage and family therapy;
               (5)  fatherhood initiatives;
               (6)  promoting traditional, positive masculinity;
               (7)  treatment of substance use disorders;
               (8)  health care; and
               (9)  mental health.
         (e)  The appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the
  commission members required by Subsection (c) of this section not
  later than the 60th day after the effective date of this Act.
         (f)  The governor shall designate a commission member to
  serve as presiding officer.
         (g)  A commission member is not entitled to compensation or
  reimbursement of expenses.
         (h)  The commission shall conduct a systematic study of the
  conditions and issues affecting boys, male youth, and men in this
  state.  The study must:
               (1)  identify and define the specific needs of boys,
  male youth, and men;
               (2)  assess issues and outcomes affecting the
  well-being of boys, male youth, and men, including:
                     (A)  marriage;
                     (B)  family stability;
                     (C)  fatherhood;
                     (D)  paternal involvement;
                     (E)  academic performance in primary and
  secondary and postsecondary education;
                     (F)  workforce participation;
                     (G)  wages, income, and poverty;
                     (H)  physical and mental health;
                     (I)  involvement with the criminal justice
  system;
                     (J)  substance use and abuse;
                     (K)  violence; and
                     (L)  death rates;
               (3)  evaluate the laws and regulations of this state
  and identify laws and regulations that negatively affect the
  ability of boys, male youth, and men to achieve prosperity and
  realize their full potential; and
               (4)  make recommendations, including changes to state
  laws, policies, and programs, for improving the conditions and
  outcomes described by Subdivision (2) of this subsection.
         (i)  The commission may request and receive information,
  data, and assistance from any state agency or department or any
  political subdivision of this state in carrying out the
  commission's duties.
         (j)  Not later than November 1, 2026, the commission shall:
               (1)  publish the results of the study required by
  Subsection (h) of this section; and
               (2)  prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a written
  report that includes:
                     (A)  the results of the study required by
  Subsection (h) of this section; and
                     (B)  recommendations for legislative or other
  action to promote the well-being and prosperity of boys, male
  youth, and men in this state and advance a culture that values
  traditional, positive masculinity, including recommendations
  regarding specific statutes or regulations that the commission
  recommends enacting, repealing, or amending.
         SECTION 3.  ABOLITION OF COMMISSION.  The Texas Commission
  for Boys and Men is abolished and this Act expires December 31,
  2026.
         SECTION 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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.