JH C.S.H.B. 892 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


URBAN AFFAIRS
C.S.H.B. 892
By: Thompson
3-6-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

The statutes governing every metropolitan transit authority, with the
exception of those in the Houston and Corpus Christi areas, allow election
units, which are not the principal city in the authority, to hold
elections on withdrawal from the authority. Some of the election units in
Harris County would like to have the option of holding withdrawal
elections. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this bill is to allow units of election, other than the
principal city, in a metropolitan transit authority, in which the
principal city has a population of 750,000 or greater, to hold an election
on the question of withdrawing from the authority. 

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 Section 451.617, Transportation Code, to allow units of
election, other than the principal city, in a metropolitan transit
authority, in which the principal city has a population of 750,000 or
greater,  to hold an election on the question of withdrawing from the
authority.  Prohibits such elections more frequently than every six years
in authorities created before 1980 and with a principal city with a
population exceeding 1.6 million. 

SECTION 2. Emergency Clause.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute adds the six year prohibition.