By:  Bosse                                            H.B. No. 1344
       73R4987 DRH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the creation of metropolitan rapid transit authorities.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Chapter 141, Acts of the 63rd Legislature,
    1-5  Regular Session, 1973 (Article 1118x, Vernon's Texas Civil
    1-6  Statutes), is amended by adding Section 3B to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 3B.  ALTERNATE CITIES.  (a)  For the purposes of this
    1-8  section, "alternate city" is a city:
    1-9              (1)  with a population in excess of 60,000 according to
   1-10  the most recent federal census;
   1-11              (2)  located in more than one county and in a
   1-12  metropolitan area in which the population of the principal city
   1-13  exceeds 1,200,000 according to the most recent federal census; and
   1-14              (3)  not part of the territory of an existing
   1-15  authority.
   1-16        (b)  An alternate city may create a metropolitan transit
   1-17  authority in the same manner as a principal city with a population
   1-18  in excess of 1,200,000 according to the most recent federal census.
   1-19  Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, an authority
   1-20  created by an alternate city and confirmed has the same powers and
   1-21  duties as an authority in which the population of the principal
   1-22  city exceeds 1,200,000 according to the most recent federal census.
   1-23        (c)  An authority created by an alternate city and confirmed
   1-24  has a board composed of five members who serve for terms of two
    2-1  years.  The members shall be appointed by the mayor of the
    2-2  alternate city subject to confirmation by the governing body of the
    2-3  alternate city.  A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the
    2-4  term in the same manner provided for original appointment.  On
    2-5  expiration of a term of office of a member of the board, the member
    2-6  may be reappointed, or another person may be appointed to replace a
    2-7  member for a succeeding term.  A member of the board is entitled to
    2-8  reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the
    2-9  discharge of duties as a board member.  A board member in an
   2-10  alternate city authority receives no compensation for attending a
   2-11  board meeting.  Section 6B of this Act does not apply to
   2-12  authorities created by alternate cities.
   2-13        (d)  An authority created by an alternate city and confirmed
   2-14  and an authority in which the population of the principal city
   2-15  exceeds 1,200,000 according to the most recent federal census may
   2-16  contract for service outside the area of their respective
   2-17  authorities for the purpose of providing access between the two
   2-18  authorities.
   2-19        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-21  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-24  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-25  passage, and it is so enacted.