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.