By: Ellis, Wentworth S.B. No. 892 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the formation of a commission to study issues relating 1-2 to the consolidation of local governments. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. (a) The Citizen's Commission on Governmental 1-5 Consolidation and Other Regional Issues is established. 1-6 (b) The commission consists of 13 members appointed as 1-7 follows: 1-8 (1) a presiding officer appointed by the governor; and 1-9 (2) 12 members, with the governor, the lieutenant 1-10 governor, and the speaker of the house each appointing one member 1-11 from each class from the following classes of persons: 1-12 (A) state officials; 1-13 (B) members of the governing body of a 1-14 municipality; 1-15 (C) members of a commissioners court; and 1-16 (D) members of the general public. 1-17 (c) In making appointments to the commission, the appointing 1-18 officers shall attempt to appoint members who come from the 1-19 different geographic regions of the state and who represent 1-20 different groups, including chambers of commerce, educational 1-21 institutions, citizens groups, private industry councils, and civil 1-22 rights groups. 1-23 (d) Each member of the commission serves at the pleasure of 2-1 the person who appointed the member. 2-2 (e) The commission shall conduct hearings in the different 2-3 regions of the state on the issues the commission is charged to 2-4 study. At least 10 hearings shall be held. The hearings are open 2-5 to the public and a written record of the testimony of the hearings 2-6 shall be maintained. 2-7 (f) The commission may adopt rules for the commission's 2-8 internal procedures. 2-9 (g) The commission may request assistance and advice from 2-10 any state department or agency or any county, municipality, or 2-11 other political subdivision. 2-12 (h) The University of Texas at San Antonio shall reimburse, 2-13 as provided by the General Appropriations Act, the travel expenses 2-14 incurred in conducting the business of the commission by a member 2-15 of the commission who is not a state official, a member of the 2-16 governing body of a municipality, or a member of a commissioners 2-17 court. 2-18 (i) The commission shall: 2-19 (1) study issues relating to the consolidation of 2-20 local governments and determine whether consolidation of local 2-21 governments may be in the best interest of the state; 2-22 (2) draft, if determined necessary, legislation to 2-23 authorize consolidation; 2-24 (3) study issues relating to local annexation and 2-25 interlocal agreements; 3-1 (4) assess the impact of consolidation, including any 3-2 proposed legislative changes, on a local government's electoral 3-3 structure; and 3-4 (5) study issues relating to the fairness of tax and 3-5 service issues affecting consolidated and nonconsolidated local 3-6 governments. 3-7 (j) The commission shall form subcommittees to study: 3-8 (1) changes to voting districts changed by or created 3-9 by the consolidation of local governments; 3-10 (2) economic and regional impacts of consolidation; 3-11 (3) effects of consolidation on municipalities with a 3-12 population of less than 5,000 or on rural counties; and 3-13 (4) changes to public education caused by 3-14 consolidation. 3-15 (k) Not later than December 1, 1998, the commission shall 3-16 issue a report summarizing: 3-17 (1) the hearings conducted by the commission; 3-18 (2) any studies conducted by the commission; 3-19 (3) any proposed legislation; and 3-20 (4) any other findings or recommendations of the 3-21 commission. 3-22 (l) Copies of the commission report shall be promptly 3-23 delivered to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker 3-24 of the house. On the date the report is delivered to those 3-25 officers, the commission is abolished. 4-1 (m) The University of Texas at San Antonio shall provide the 4-2 staff and support necessary to administer this Act. 4-3 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 4-4 (b) The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker 4-5 of the house shall appoint members to the Citizen's Commission on 4-6 Governmental Consolidation and Other Regional Issues, as 4-7 established by this Act, not later than September 15, 1997. 4-8 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 4-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.