TWT H.B. 1692 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


TRANSPORTATION
H.B. 1692
By: Eiland
4-15-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Under current law, Boards of Trustees of harbor and port facilities are
limited to issuing bonds and other obligations. Thus, it is unclear if a
board may act for another purpose, such as owning property. In addition,
the power and authority given to a board is unclear in three subsections
of the law: whether certain contracts or expenditures are exempt from
competitive bidding; whether they may own, maintain and operate
transportation facilities; and the rights, privileges and duties of peace
officers employed. 

PURPOSE

H.B. 1692 clarifies the purpose of the Boards of Trustees of port and
harbor facilities and several of the powers specifically granted. 

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 3(b), Chapter 341, Acts of the 57th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1961 (Article 1187f, Vernon's Texas Civil
Statutes), to expressly state that the board of trustees may act for other
purposes than solely issuing bonds and other obligation in managing the
facilities.   

 Amends Subsection (6) to allow any exemptions from competitive bidding
that are allowed in the general exemptions for municipalities or other
applicable law.   

 Deletes a restriction on peace officers employed by the board in
Subsection (12) to comply with general peace officer legal requirements.   

 Adds Subsection (13) to clarify that a board may accept responsibility
for operating, maintaining, and otherwise handling the affairs of
transportation facilities. 
  
SECTION 2.  Emergency clause. Effective upon passage.