JH H.B. 817 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


URBAN AFFAIRS
H.B. 817
By: Wilson
5-12-97
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND 

Under current law, the Mayor, City Council and City Controller of 
the City of Houston are 
limited to serve three 2-year terms in their respective elected 
offices.

PURPOSE

H.B. 817 would extend the term limits to four 2-year terms for 
the 1997 election and authorize an 
election in November 1997 for voter consideration of a term limit 
of two 4-year terms (8 years). 
No office holder who has served a total of 4 terms (or 8-years) 
will be eligible to file for the 4-
year terms in 1999 if the proposal is approved by voters in 1997. 
 If the election fails, term limits 
would revert back to the three 2-year limit as called for in the 
City of Houston charter.

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.  Amend Subchapter C, Chapter 26 of the Local 
Government code by adding Section 
26.046 which:
 (a) Restricts this bill only to a municipality with a population 
of 1.5 million or more.
 (b) Includes governing body of a municipality and municipal term 
limits.
 (c) Term limits cannot disqualify a person who presently serves 
on the City Council, 
      Comptroller or Mayor prior to September 1, 1997.
 (d) Requires the Mayor to order an election for November 4, 1997 
for the purpose of 
       establishing two 4-year terms.
 (e) If the election fails the term limits would remain unchanged.
 (f) If voters approve the term limits, the terms of the governing 
body would be two 4-year 
      terms.
 (g) Partial terms considered for term limits only if at least two 
years served; terms before 
       election not considered.

SECTION 2.  Effective date, September 1, 1997

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.



EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment #1 permits a home-rule city with a population 
of 1.5 million to have a