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.