BILL ANALYSIS C.S.S.B. 253 By: Gallegos (Janek) March 20, 1995 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND The Harris County Road Law was originally passed by the Texas Legislature in 1913 as a "special law" to outline various duties and powers granted to the Harris County commissioners court for the development and maintenance of roads and related transportation needs. The Road Law has never been codified into the civil statutes or the Local Government Code. Section 7 of the Road Law, which requires the Harris County commissioners court to meet each Monday at 10:00 a.m. conflicts with the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code, and Chapter 81, Local Government Code. Section 81.005(g), Local Government Code, permits a commissioners court to meet at periodic intervals other than weekly. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 253 requires meetings of the Harris County commissioners court to adhere to the Open Meetings Act. 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 7, Chapter 17, Special Laws, Acts of the 33rd Legislature, 1913 (Harris County Road Law), to require meetings of the commissioners court of Harris County to be in accordance with the Open Meetings Act (Chapter 551, Government Code) and any other statutes applicable to meetings of the commissioners court. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The committee substitute has the same substantive effect as the original bill. The committee substitute puts the original bill into Legislative Council draft form. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION SB 253 was considered by the Committee on County Affairs in a public hearing on 3/8/95. Representative Janek opened. SB 253 was left pending. SB 253 was laid out as pending business and considered by the County Affairs Committee in a public hearing on 3/15/95. Representative Janek opened. The County Affairs Committee considered a complete committee substitute for SB 253. The substitute was adopted without objection. SB 253 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, 2 absent.