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.