Texas. Good Neighbor Commission

A good neighbor policy was first established in Texas in 1943. The 48th Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 105, which called for equal treatment of Mexicans and other Latin Americans residing in or visiting the state. Based on this resolution, in June of that year Governor Coke Stevenson issued a proclamation establishing a good neighbor policy between Texas and Mexico, emphasizing equal treatment for Latin Americans in Texas. Following this move, the state was eligible for federal funding to put such a policy into effect. Later that same year, the Governor appointed the first Good Neighbor Commission, an unofficial seven-member commission, to carry out the good neighbor policy--generally correcting the undesirable conditions existing for individuals of Latin American descent in the state. In 1945 the 49th Legislature passed House Bill 804, establishing the Texas Good Neighbor Commission (GNC) as a temporary state agency. The Commission was composed of nine members, each appointed by the Governor with Senate approval to two-year terms. In 1947, the 50th Legislature, through House Bill 468, made the Good Neighbor Commission a permanent state commission. The members were now appointed to six-year, overlapping terms. A chair was elected by the members. Administrative duties were carried out by an Executive Secretary, later the Executive Director. The Commission was to meet annually in Austin, and otherwise as directed by the chairman. Eventually, the Commission met quarterly.

The initial mandate of the GNC was to promote inter-American goodwill, advance inter-American relations, and improve the conditions of Mexicans and those of Latin American ancestry in the state. During the early years, the Commission largely dealt with discrimination and related problems, such as school and housing segregation, and the treatment of braceros and migrant laborers. The Mexican government refused to allow the import of Mexican nationals for labor into areas with discrimination problems. This put a strain on several areas of the state needing unskilled laborers, especially for agriculture. To combat these problems, the GNC worked with local governments to establish local good neighbor or human relations councils which could deal with all but the severe discrimination cases. When a particular city/county had successfully resolved its discrimination problems the GNC would contact Mexican officials requesting removal of the area from the blacklist. The Good Neighbor Commission also launched a public awareness campaign to make Texans aware of such situations and measures taken or needed to improve conditions.

The Good Neighbor Commission also worked for education, securing scholarships for Texan and Latin American students, encouraging and assisting with visits of Mexican teachers to Texas, promoting the teaching of Spanish in Texas schools, and sponsoring the Pan American Student Forum. In addition, it established the International Good Neighbor Council; sponsored lecturers from Latin American Republics to speak in Texas; encouraged travel in Texas and Mexico; improved press relations in Texas and Mexico; encouraged and assisted in the development of international projects, such as parks, bridges, and highways; and participated in other international affairs.

In 1965 the mandate of the Good Neighbor Commission was altered to include additional migrant labor responsibilities. The 59th Legislature, through Senate Bill 179, abolished the Texas Council of Migrant Labor (established in 1957) and transferred all of its duties and responsibilities to the Good Neighbor Commission. This Council had been responsible for coordinating the work of state agencies in improving travel and living conditions of migrant laborers. Further legislation in 1971 (Senate Bill 676) required the GNC to submit an annual report on migrant affairs to the Governor and Legislature. This bill also created a Good Neighbor Commission of Texas Fund--a repository for private donations to the GNC. In 1975, migrant responsibilities were transferred to the newly-created Governor's Office of Migrant Affairs.

In 1979 the 66th Legislature, through House Bill 1061, revised the statute of the Good Neighbor Commission. Changes included the application of the Open Meetings and Open Records Act and the Sunset Act, and changes in some responsibilities. The Commission's new duties were to assist agencies and others in the advancement of inter-American understanding and goodwill; provide language translation services to state agencies and other government bodies; support and sponsor the Pan American Student Forum; gather information, do research, and conduct investigations related to inter-American affairs; maintain contact with western hemisphere officials and act as a source of information for the Consular Corps in Texas; represent the Governor and make arrangements for state officials to appear at public events; receive foreign dignitaries; serve as protocol advisors or interpreters at meetings between state officials of western hemisphere countries; and establish and maintain offices in Mexico to provide information between Texas and Mexico.

Some specific activities undertaken by the GNC included sponsoring and arranging student exchange visits; coordinating visits of Mexican officials to Texas and a series of exchange visits between Governor William Clements and governors of bordering Mexican states; assisting in establishing a series of border conferences between U.S. and Mexican border states, and arranging meetings between the GNC and other state border commissions; continuing sponsorship of the Pan American Student Forum; and interaction with the International Good Neighbor Council.

Throughout its existence, the Good Neighbor Commission endeavored to improve relations between Texas and Latin American Republics, namely Mexico. The Commission worked with several organizations that also worked toward these goals. Two organizations closely associated with the GNC were the Pan American Student Forum of Texas (PASF) and the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC). The PASF is composed of students who are interested in studying countries and cultures of other American Republics and fostering better relations with these countries. This organization was established in Texas in 1943. Since 1949 the Good Neighbor Commission has sponsored the PASF and provided administrative assistance. The IGNC was created in 1954 following a resolution passed by the Good Neighbor Commission. The IGNC was created as an international cooperative body formed to study border problems between Texas and its bordering Mexican states--Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Chihuahua. In later years, other U.S. and Mexican states have joined this organization. The Good Neighbor Commission maintained close ties with this organization as its Executive Director was an ex officio member of the IGNC Board of Directors.

In the mid 1980s, funding for the Good Neighbor Commission was not legislatively appropriated. It was funded for FY 1986 - FY 1987 through the Governor's Office. The Commission was not given any funding for FY 1988 or FY 1989, and as of September 1, 1987, had been designated as a non-functioning agency. It was due for Sunset review in 1991. The Sunset Commission recommended the agency not be continued. The Legislature took no action to continue the agency, so the Good Neighbor Commission was allowed to expire (Vernon's statutes Art. 4101-2).

From the guide to the Records, 1943-1987, undated, (Repository Unknown)