By Ellis S.B. No. 1697
76R3777 CAG-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the formation of a commission to study issues relating
1-3 to the consolidation of local governments.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. (a) The Citizen's Commission on Governmental
1-6 Consolidation and Other Regional Issues is established.
1-7 (b) The commission consists of 13 members appointed as
1-8 follows:
1-9 (1) a presiding officer appointed by the governor; and
1-10 (2) 12 members, with the governor, the lieutenant
1-11 governor, and the speaker of the house each appointing one member
1-12 from each of the following classes of persons:
1-13 (A) state officials;
1-14 (B) members of the governing body of a
1-15 municipality;
1-16 (C) members of a commissioners court; and
1-17 (D) members of the general public.
1-18 (c) In making appointments to the commission, the appointing
1-19 officers shall attempt to appoint members who come from the
1-20 different geographic regions of the state and who represent
1-21 different groups, including chambers of commerce, educational
1-22 institutions, citizens' groups, private industry councils, and
1-23 civil rights groups.
1-24 (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) Members of the commission may not receive compensation
2-13 for service on the commission.
2-14 (i) The commission shall:
2-15 (1) study issues relating to the consolidation of
2-16 local governments and determine if consolidation of local
2-17 governments may be in the best interest of the state;
2-18 (2) draft, if determined necessary, legislation to
2-19 authorize consolidation;
2-20 (3) study issues relating to local annexation and
2-21 interlocal agreements;
2-22 (4) assess the impact of consolidation, including any
2-23 proposed legislative changes, on a local government's electoral
2-24 structure; and
2-25 (5) study issues relating to the fairness of tax and
2-26 service issues affecting consolidated and nonconsolidated local
2-27 governments.
3-1 (j) The commission shall form subcommittees to study:
3-2 (1) changes to voting districts changed by or created
3-3 by the consolidation of local governments;
3-4 (2) economic and regional impacts of consolidation;
3-5 (3) effects of consolidation on municipalities with a
3-6 population of less than 5,000 or rural counties; and
3-7 (4) changes to public education caused by
3-8 consolidation.
3-9 (k) Not later than December 1, 2000, the commission shall
3-10 issue a report summarizing:
3-11 (1) the hearings conducted by the commission;
3-12 (2) any studies conducted by the commission;
3-13 (3) any proposed legislation; and
3-14 (4) any other findings or recommendations of the
3-15 commission.
3-16 (l) Copies of the commission report shall be promptly
3-17 delivered to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
3-18 house. On the date the report is delivered to those officers, the
3-19 commission is abolished.
3-20 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-21 (b) The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
3-22 house shall appoint members to the Citizen's Commission on
3-23 Governmental Consolidation and Other Regional Issues, as
3-24 established by this Act, not later than September 15, 1999.
3-25 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.