TCA Legislative Update (May 22, 2007)

Houston Arts Alliance would like to share a TCA advocacy opportunity brought to our attention by Texans for the Arts.  Please click here for more information.

TCA Legislative Update (April 27, 2007)

At the request of TCA staff, we are making this additional information available to you.  There is a hearing next week relating to the transfer of the Texas Commission on the Arts to the office of the governor and the dedication of certain sales and use tax and franchise tax revenue to the Music, Film, and Arts Office operating fund. Visit the TCA website for more information.

TCA Legislative Update (April 20, 2007)

Here is the latest information related to the Texas Commission on the Arts.

TCA Legislative Update (March 26, 2007)

Momentum continues to build as the 80th Legislative Session progresses.  Here is the latest information related to the Texas Commission on the Arts.

TCA Legislative Alert (March 13, 2007)

TCA is providing the following information to update the field on the most recent legislative developments related to the Texas Commission on the Arts. This alert contains updates on:

- S. B. 1376 – related to the transfer of the Texas Commission on the Arts to the Office of the Governor as a Trusteed program. Passage of this bill would result in the abolishment of TCA and the creation of a new division within the Office of the Governor.

- S. B. 901 – related to the continuation and functions of the Texas Commission on the Arts as a result of the Sunset process.

- H. B. 3713 – related to the permissible uses of the state highway fund. Passage of this bill will result in a $670,000 annual loss to TCA’s budget.

- H. B. 399 – related to access to interest earned on the Texas Cultural Endowment Fund. Passage of this bill will result in an increase of approximately $1.5 million annually for grants to the field.

- House Appropriations Committee recommendation to transfer of $1.2 million out of TCA’s grants budget to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) for the purpose of completing the Tejano Monument.

- Legislative Budget Board recommendation – The LBB recommendation results in a slight increase to TCA’s overall budget and includes the recommendation that TCA receive access to interest earnings on the Texas Cultural Endowment Fund. However, the recommendation uses those funds to supplant General Revenue to the agency. Additionally, the recommendation eliminates TCA’s technology budget.

Please click here to read the full TCA Legislative Alert for complete details.

TCA Update on Funding: (March 2007) Please click here to read the new bill filed on Wednesday, March 7th, regaurding the transfer of the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) to the office if the governor and the dedication of certain sales and use tax and franchise tax revenue to the Music, Film, and Arts Office operating fund.

TCA Update on Funding: (February 2007) As many arts and cultural organizations in Houston receive funding for thier arts programming from Texas Commission on the Arts or are preparing applications for TCA funding in FY08, it is important to stay informed of the status of state appropriations under consideration by the state legislature and governor that may impact those funds.  Houston Arts Alliance uses its TCA funds to support approximately 20-25 arts organizations each year through its Touring & Neighborhood Arts Program.  This is the only current source of funds provided by HAA that the organizations can use in support of in-school and after school programs.  Until Houston Arts Alliance can find alternate funds, it is important to maintain them.  To learn more, please read the correspondence sent to us from Texans for the Arts.  Click here.

For more information on this topic, please read Rick Casey's column that was published in Wednesday, February 28, 2007, in the Houston Chronicle.  Click here.

Texans for the Arts: TFA is a grass-roots 501(c) 4 non-profit organization incorporated in 1993. Texans for the Arts provides coordinated information about legislative activity relating to arts issues and organizes advocacy efforts in order to increase public funding for the arts in Texas. TFA represents individuals and organizations from across the state. TFA closely monitors and advocates for the use of Hotel Occupancy Tax funds to support the arts across Texas.

To learn more about TFA or to join its efforts, visit www.texansforthearts.com.

Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education: The TCQAE is a nonprofit service organization that acts as a common voice for fine arts education, representing the over three million students enrolled in the fine arts in Texas, their parents, educators, community leaders, and arts advocates involved in and supportive of fine arts education, both publicly and privately.

To learn more about what you can do to support arts in the schools, visit www.txarts.net/tcqae.