By Wilson H.B. No. 2091
76R6170 JSA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the governance of Texas Southern University.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 106, Education Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Section 106.111 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 106.111. BOARD ABOLISHED; INTERIM GOVERNING COMMITTEE.
1-7 (a) The board of regents of Texas Southern University is
1-8 abolished, and the governor shall appoint an interim governing
1-9 committee of five persons in accordance with this section.
1-10 (b) Each member of the interim governing committee must have
1-11 legal residence in a different State Board of Education district,
1-12 must be a registered voter, and may not hold any other state or
1-13 local civil office. Members shall qualify by taking the
1-14 constitutional oath of office. The governor may not appoint to the
1-15 committee more than two persons who are members of the board of
1-16 regents on the effective date of this section. Members of the
1-17 interim governing committee are subject to any law applicable to
1-18 members of the board of regents.
1-19 (c) The speaker of the house of representatives and the
1-20 lieutenant governor shall each submit to the governor the names of
1-21 three nominees to the interim governing committee. The governor
1-22 shall appoint to the interim governing committee at least one
1-23 person from each set of nominees in addition to appointing three
1-24 other persons. The speaker and lieutenant governor shall make
2-1 those nominations, and the governor shall make those appointments,
2-2 as soon as possible after the effective date of this section.
2-3 (d) The terms of the members of the board of regents of
2-4 Texas Southern University serving on the effective date of this
2-5 section expire on the date of the first meeting of the interim
2-6 governing committee. The governor shall designate one member of
2-7 the interim governing committee as presiding officer, and the
2-8 presiding officer shall call that first meeting as soon as possible
2-9 after a quorum of the committee has qualified.
2-10 (e) The interim governing committee has all the powers and
2-11 duties given by law to the board of regents. The appointment of
2-12 the interim governing committee does not affect the validity of any
2-13 action taken by or pursuant to the direction of the board of
2-14 regents before the date on which the terms of the members of the
2-15 board expire. Rules adopted by the board remain in effect until
2-16 superseded by rules of the interim governing committee or a
2-17 subsequent board of regents.
2-18 (f) The terms of the governor's appointees under this
2-19 section expire February 1, 2003. On the expiration of those terms,
2-20 the governor shall appoint a board of regents for Texas Southern
2-21 University in accordance with this subchapter. Members of the
2-22 interim governing committee are eligible for appointment to the
2-23 board of regents. In appointing the initial board under this
2-24 subsection, the governor shall designate appropriate terms of
2-25 office so that the expiration of terms are staggered as required by
2-26 Section 106.12.
2-27 (g) This section expires September 1, 2003.
3-1 SECTION 2. Section 106.13, Education Code, is amended to
3-2 read as follows:
3-3 Sec. 106.13. QUALIFICATIONS; OATH. Each member of the board
3-4 shall be a qualified voter of the state. Each member must have
3-5 legal residence in a different State Board of Education district.
3-6 A member may not hold any other state or local civil office. [The
3-7 members shall be selected from different portions of the state.]
3-8 Each member shall take the constitutional oath of office.
3-9 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-15 passage, and it is so enacted.