The Sunset Review of the Texas Commission on the Arts
The mission and performance of the Texas Commission on the Arts are reviewed by the Legislature as required under the Texas Sunset Act every twelve years. The Act provides that the Sunset Commission, composed of legislators and public members, periodically evaluate a state agency to determine if the agency is still needed, and what improvements are needed to ensure state funds are well spent. Based on the recommendations of the Sunset Commission, the Texas Legislature ultimately decides whether an agency continues to operate into the future.
The Sunset review involves three steps. First, Sunset Commission staff evaluated the Texas Commission on the Arts and has issue a report recommending solutions to problems found. That report can be found here along with the feedback received from the public. The deadline for public feedback has passed. Next, the Sunset Commission met to hear public testimony on the agency and the recommendations of the Sunset staff on September 5, 2012. Finally, based on public input and the Sunset staff report, the Sunset Commission met on November 13, 2012 and adopted the recommendations outlined in the Sunset staff report. A bill was created outlining those recommendations that went to the full Legislature in 2013 and was passed. Senate Bill 202 continues the agency through September 1, 2025. The bill also gradually reduces the number of Commissioners on the agency’s board from seventeen to nine.
