BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 2062
By: Alvarado
March 29, 1995
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Transit authorities in Texas are created and governed by Article
1118x of Vernon's Civil Statutes. According the statute, a transit
authorities board of trustees is an appointed board.  For example,
the San Antonio Transit Authority or VIA is a eleven member board 
under Article 1118x Subsection 6B (a) or (b).  The appointments are
made by the city, county, and suburban mayors. The board chairman
is selected from the  one the board members. 


PURPOSE

C.S.H.B. 2062 would convert the elected board of a principal city
of less than 1.2 million created before  January 1, 1980 from an
appointed board to an elected one.


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 Chapter 141, Article 1118x, Vernon's Civil
Statutes by adding Section 6J as follows:

Sec. 6J. CONVERSION TO ELECTED BOARD.                                 

     (a) This section only applies to an authority created before
January 1, 1980 with a   principal population of less than 1.2
million.

     (b) Districts are to be drawn to equal the number of members
on the board in equal    contiguous districts, coinciding with
state representative districts if possible, based on   previous
census no later than January 1, 1996.

     (c) Elections are to be held on same day as the regular
municipal elections of the principal    municipalities.

     (d) Voters elect one member to the board. Candidates must be
residents of the district and      vacate office if the member
moves.

     (e) Members serve a two-year term except as provided by
subsection (f); maximum of    three terms allowed.
     
     (f) Defines how terms are staggered by drawing lots. One half
of the board will serve  a    staggered term.

     (g) Elections are to be held on a uniform election date after
terms are staggered.

     (h) Defines how vacancies are to be filled by appointment.

     (i) Provides for a increase or decrease in board size.

     (j) Defines how board will be drawn after decennial census.

     (k) Provides for designation of chairman.

     (l) Deletes requirement of an election if only one candidate
files for a position.

SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. EMERGENCY CLAUSE.



COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute adds requirement that districts coincide with state
representative districts, if possible; requires transit authority
to coincide with municipal elections; limits terms to three;
provides for designation of chair; deletes requirement of election
if only one candidate files.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 2062 was considered in a public hearing on March 27, 1995. 
The following people testified in favor of the bill: Rep. Alvarado. 
The committee considered a complete substitute for the bill.  The
substitute was adopted without objection.  The bill was reported
favorably, as substituted, with the recommendation that it do pass
and be printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent
Calendars, by a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 2 absent.