SRC-JJJ S.B. 111 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 111
76R2692 KKA-DBy: Carona
Education
2/22/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not authorize the board of trustees in certain
independent school districts to require candidates to receive a majority of
votes to be elected.  Trustees are allowed to be elected through a simple
plurality vote, which may result in a candidate winning without a majority
of the votes.   This bill would provide the majority vote option for the
board of trustees of an independant school district in which the positions
of trustees are designated by number or in which the trustees are elected
from single-member districts. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 111 authorizes an optional majority vote requirement for
election of trustees in certain independent school districts. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 11.057, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 11.057. New heading: DETERMINATION OF RESULTS; OPTIONAL MAJORITY VOTE
REQUIREMENT.  Establishes that an independent school district in which the
positions of trustees are designated by number or in which the trustees are
elected from single-member trustee districts, the candidate with the
highest number of votes for each position is elected.  Establishes that in
a district in which trustees are not elected from singlemember trustee
districts, the candidate with the highest number of votes shall fill the
position.  Authorizes the board of trustees of an independent school
district, in which trustees are designated by number of elected from
single-member districts, to provide by resolution by a certain date, that a
candidate must receive a majority of the votes to be elected.  Provides
that a resolution adopted is effective until rescinded by a subsequent
resolution adopted no later than the 180th day before the date of the first
election to which the recission applies. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that Section 11.057, Education Code, does not require
a school district to elect trustees in a manner other than the manner used
to elect trustees on June 1, 1999. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.