BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2230
                                          By: Hunter (Armbrister)
                                                Natural Resources
                                                         05-04-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, the Calhoun County Navigation District is governed by a
six-member board.  Four members are elected from single-member
districts, and two members are elected at-large.  Members
representing the single-member districts are elected from Calhoun
County commissioners' precincts, but the navigation district's
boundaries do not include the entire county.  This creates the
possibility of having navigation commissioners elected from
districts with population disparities.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2230 creates a board of six navigation
commissioners to govern the Calhoun County Navigation District. 
Establishes procedures for the election of the navigation
commissioners.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2, Chapter 195, Acts of the 53rd
Legislature, Regular Session, 1953, as follows:

     Sec.  2.  (a) Requires the Calhoun County Navigation District
     (district) to be governed by a board of six navigation
     commissioners (board).  Requires each member of the board to
     be elected from a separate precinct.
     
     (b) Requires the board to occasionally divide the district
       into six navigation commissioner precincts (precincts) that
       are compact and contiguous and fairly equal in population.
     (c) Requires the board to complete any division of the
       district into new precincts by the 90th day before the
       election of commissioners from those precincts.
     (d) Requires the qualified voters of each precinct to elect
       one commissioner who resides in the precinct.
     (e) Requires six commissioners to be elected at the first
       election after the district has been divided into new
       precincts.  Sets forth requirements for the terms of the
       commissioners.  Deletes language regarding requirements of
       the commissioners.
     (f) Sets forth findings and determination of the legislature
       regarding the board.  Deletes language relating to the
       vacancies on the board and appointment of commissioners. 
       Redesignates existing Subsection (b).
     (g) Makes a nonsubstantive change.  Redesignates existing
       Subsection (c).
     (h) Authorizes any person qualified for election to office
       for which an election is called to file no later than 5 p.m.
       of the 45th day, rather than 10 days, before the date of the
       election to have that person's name placed on the ballot. 
       Redesignates existing Subsection (d).
     (i) Requires the person receiving the highest number of
       votes in each precinct, rather than for each place, to be
       declared elected to the office.
     (j) Requires an appointed member of the board to be treated
       as if the member were elected.
     SECTION 2.     (a) Requires the district to be governed by the board
serving as of September 1, 1995, until the board elected on May 3,
1997, takes office.

     (b) Requires the board elected September 1, 1995, to divide
     the district into six precincts by February 2, 1997.
     
     SECTION 3.     Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.