BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 3157
By: Conley
March 29, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Under current law, the "Metro" system in the Houston area is the
only regional transit authority in Texas whose governing board
members may be removed by means of a statutorily-designated recall
process.  That process is to be found in Article 1118x, Vernon's
Texas Civil Statutes.


PURPOSE

To provide that members of the governing board of the "VIA" system
in the San Antonio area likewise be removable by means of the same
recall process presently available for the "Metro" system in the
Houston area.


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 Article 1118x, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, by
amending Sections 4(e)(2)(A), 4(e)(4) and 4(e)(5)(A) thereof to add
population bracketing language thereto to unmistakably reference
the "VIA" system of the San Antonio area, thereby allowing members
of the San Antonio City Council ("principal city" as it is called
in Article 1118x) to remove, by means of the recall process
embodied in the statute, any member of the "VIA" board who was
appointed by the San Antonio City Council; likewise, members of the
Bexar County Commissioners Court would be able to remove, by means
of this recall process, any member of the "VIA" board who was
appointed by the Bexar County Commissioners Court; and, finally,
the council of any suburban municipality would be able to remove,
by means of this recall process, any member of the "VIA" board who
was appointed by the council of that suburban municipality.

SECTION 2.  Effective date, September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3.  "Short" Emergency Clause.



SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 3157 was considered in a public hearing on March 27, 1995. 
The following people testified in favor of the bill: Rep. Conley. 
The bill was reported favorably, without amendment, 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 6
ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 3 absent.