S.B. No. 530
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the creation of metropolitan rapid transit authorities.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 141, Acts of the 63rd Legislature,
1-4 Regular Session, 1973 (Article 1118x, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-5 Statutes), is amended by adding Section 3B to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 3B. ALTERNATE CITIES. (a) For the purposes of this
1-7 section, "alternate city" is a city:
1-8 (1) with a population in excess of 60,000 according to
1-9 the most recent federal census;
1-10 (2) located in a metropolitan area in which the
1-11 population of the principal city exceeds 1,200,000 according to the
1-12 most recent federal census; and
1-13 (3) not part of the territory of an existing
1-14 authority.
1-15 (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, an
1-16 alternate city may create a metropolitan transit authority in the
1-17 same manner as a principal city with a population in excess of
1-18 1,200,000 according to the most recent federal census. Except as
1-19 provided by Subsection (d) of this section, an authority created by
1-20 an alternate city and confirmed has the same powers and duties as
1-21 an authority in which the population of the principal city exceeds
1-22 1,200,000 according to the most recent federal census.
1-23 (c) The governing body of an alternate city shall by
1-24 ordinance or resolution set a time and a place for holding a public
2-1 hearing if an authority is proposed under either method provided by
2-2 Subsection (a) of Section 3 of this Act. The ordinance or
2-3 resolution must define the boundaries of the areas proposed to be
2-4 included in the authority. The initial territory in an authority
2-5 shall include all the territory in the jurisdiction of the
2-6 alternate city and may include an area that the alternate city
2-7 completely surrounds and has been designated by the alternate city
2-8 as an industrial district.
2-9 (d) An authority created by an alternate city and confirmed
2-10 has a board composed of five members who serve for terms of two
2-11 years. The members shall be appointed by the mayor of the
2-12 alternate city subject to confirmation by the governing body of the
2-13 alternate city. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the
2-14 term in the same manner as that provided for original appointment.
2-15 On expiration of a term of office of a member of the board, the
2-16 member may be reappointed or another person may be appointed to
2-17 replace the member for a succeeding term. A member of the board is
2-18 entitled to reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses
2-19 incurred in the discharge of duties as a board member. A board
2-20 member in an alternate city authority receives no compensation for
2-21 attending a board meeting. Section 6B of this Act does not apply
2-22 to authorities created by alternate cities.
2-23 (e) An authority created by an alternate city and confirmed
2-24 and an authority in which the population of the principal city
2-25 exceeds 1,200,000 according to the most recent federal census may
2-26 contract for service outside the area of their respective
2-27 authorities for the purpose of providing access between the two
3-1 authorities.
3-2 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 3, Chapter 141, Acts of
3-3 the 63rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1973 (Article 1118x,
3-4 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
3-5 (a) The governing body of a principal city in a metropolitan
3-6 area may, on its own motion, shall, as provided in Subsection (b)
3-7 of this section, and shall, upon being presented with a petition so
3-8 requesting signed by not less than 500 <5,000> qualified voters
3-9 residing within such metropolitan area, institute proceedings to
3-10 create a rapid transit authority in the manner prescribed in this
3-11 section.
3-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-17 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-18 passage, and it is so enacted.