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House Bill 1642 |
House Author: Bonnen, Dennis |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
Senate Sponsor: Whitmire |
House Bill 1642 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to set out provisions relating to the Port of Houston Authority following a special review of the authority by the Sunset Advisory Commission. The bill revises provisions relating to the commission's locally appointed seven-member governing board, including the board's composition, appointment, and terms of membership. The bill establishes commissioner term limits. The bill provides for the appointment of a chair of the port commission and for the composition of the authority's navigation board.
House Bill 1642 sets out provisions relating to the promotion of good governance and ethics, including policies governing conflicts of interest, filing of financial statements by port commissioners, port commissioner training, grounds for removal of a port commissioner, and the powers and duties of an executive director of the authority. The bill also requires the authority to develop public involvement and complaints procedures and to adopt policies relating to the authority's expenses and use of its promotion and development fund.
House Bill 1642 requires the authority to create a comprehensive strategic planning process, requires the port commission to annually adopt a budget for the authority in an open meeting, and requires the authority to provide public access to budget and planning information. The bill requires the authority to establish an internal audit function consistent with standards for state agency internal audit procedures and clarifies the Harris County Auditor's authority to conduct risk-based financial audits.
House Bill 1642 transfers the authority's uncodified session law into the Special District Local Laws Code and makes technical changes, including repealing or updating obsolete provisions. The bill requires another sunset review of the authority in 2017 and specifies that the authority is not subject to abolishment under the Texas Sunset Act.