(a) Philanthropic naming refers to the naming of a property or some component of a property for an individual or civic or charitable group in exchange for financial or other consideration.
(b) The term "civic or charitable group" shall mean a nonprofit entity, family or group. For-profit entities shall not be considered civic or charitable groups for purposes of this section.
(c) Only non-historic features at State Historic Sites may be named pursuant to these rules, such as new visitor centers, meeting rooms, theaters, galleries, plazas, and other similar features designed for public use.
(d) Philanthropic naming rights may only be granted as part of a philanthropic naming rights plan developed in support of a particular project at a State Historic Site and approved by the Commission.
(e) Philanthropic naming rights plans shall establish an aggregate campaign goal, taking into consideration capital costs, annual operating and maintenance costs, desirability and marketability, and visibility and prominence of the features to be named.
(f) Subsequent to the approval of a philanthropic naming rights plan by the Commission, the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director for Historic Sites, working with the agency's Development Director, shall have the authority to independently review and approve naming proposals consistent with said plan. In reaching this decision, they shall consider whether the gift is from a potentially controversial source, how the donation is to be acknowledged on the site, and any other relevant factors. If, in the opinion of the staff the gift could be controversial, staff may refer the proposed gift to the Commission for final approval.
(g) All assets for which naming rights will be offered shall be valued as a function of the aggregate campaign goal within the philanthropic naming rights plan.
(h) All naming rights shall be approved for a specific term, which shall not be longer than the useful life of the property or facility, as determined by the Commission, unless otherwise established in the naming rights plan approved by the Commission.
(i) The Commission shall have the authority to rescind the naming of any property or component of any property if, in the Commission's opinion, the individual, civic or charitable group is found to have participated in any behavior which would have a negative impact on the site or agency or would discredit the work of the agency in any way.
(j) Guidelines in the recognition and acknowledgement of gifts and donations dedicated to State Historic Sites are detailed in the "Texas Historical Commission Donor Recognition Policy" as posted on the Texas Historical Commission's website at thc.texas.gov. Design guidelines for State Historic Sites donor recognition are detailed and incorporated into the "Texas Historical Commission Donor Recognition Policy" to include general guidelines, specific design guidelines, recognition of campaign/endowment donors at historic sites facilities and recognition of annual operating gifts at historic sites facilities.

Source Note: The provisions of this §16.11 adopted to be effective August 31, 2015, 40 TexReg 5457; amended to be effective January 2, 2018, 42 TexReg 7682