BILL ANALYSIS



H.B.3211
By: Berlanga
4-18-95
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND
The Port of Corpus Christi Authority oversees the operations of a
regional transportation center of great economic importance to
Corpus Christi and Nueces County. The authority provides first-class channels, docks and facilities for handling cargo and
provides public facilities that attract tourist dollars. The
authority serves as an economic-development catalyst for the area.

The port authority is governed by a port board of commissioners
composed of seven members appointed by the City of Corpus Christi
and Nueces County. The members serve staggered three-year terms.
Current law governing the Corpus Christi port commission does not
outline residency qualifications for commissioners nor does it
limit the number of terms commissioners can serve. Instituting
qualifications for appointment to the port commission will ensure
that the board is composed of representatives from the area of
state directly affected by the Port Authority's decisions and
activities.


PURPOSE
H.B. 3211 would establish a specific residency requirement for Port
of Corpus Christi Authority commissioners and limit the number of
terms a commissioner can serve.


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


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 2 and 3, Chapter 397, Acts of the 68th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1983, as follows:

     Sec. 2. Adds "ELIGIBILITY" to the title of the section, and
     adds Subsection (b), stipulating that a person must have been
     a resident of Nueces County for at least six months to be
     eligible for appointment to the port commission.

     Sec. 3.  Adds Subsection (b), which prohibits a person from
     serving more than three full terms as a port commissioner.

SECTION 2.  States that this Act would not affect the eligibility
of a person who is member of the port commission on the effective
date of the Act.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION
H.B.3211 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on
April 18, 1995.
No testimony was received.
The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of
5 ayes, 1 nay, 0 pnv, 3 absent.