BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1378 By: Krusee 03-30-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND The 1991 redistricting of State Representative Districts 52 and 53 in Williamson County split several communities including Anderson Mill, Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock. This division of communities has led to voter confusion as to who their representative is and duplication of efforts regarding constituent services. The Representatives of district 52 and 53 have agreed upon the revisions contained in HB 1378. Changes in both demographics and deviations between the present lines and those proposed by HB 1378 are negligible. PURPOSE This bill adjusts the district line between State Representative Districts 52 and 53 in Williamson County. After making this adjustment, Anderson Mill and Round Rock will be contained wholly within district 52, and Leander will be contained wholly within District 53. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 52 and 53, Article II, Chapter 2, Acts of the 72nd Legislature, 3rd called Session, 1992, by shifting appropriate census tracks to allow adjustment of the District line between State Representative Districts 52 and 53. SECTION 2. Provides definition of "block group" of census tracks so as to minimize the number of census track listings required to describe a political district. SECTION 3. States the change made by this bill does not affect the members or districts of the Texas House of Representatives of the 74th Legislature. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The committee substitute of this bill switches the following areas in addition to the ones that were switched by the original House Bill 1378: Anderson Mill West - VTDs 216 and 273 - are moved to District 52; and rural areas around Lake Georgetown - VTDs 244 and 305 - and Florence - VTD 310 - are moved to District 53. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to public notice posted March 23, 1995, the House Committee on Redistricting met in a public hearing on March 28, 1995. Representative Krusee explained the bill. The committee considered a complete substitute for the bill. The substitute was adopted without objection by a non-record vote. The bill was reported favorably as substituted, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.