HBA-CCH, JEK H.B. 1621 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1621
By: Coleman
Urban Affairs
3/8/2001
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Many Texans, primarily elderly, disabled, and low-income persons utilize
public transportation as a means to travel around a city because they
cannot or do not drive.  This may underscore the need to build a more
equitable and efficient public transportation system that meets the
concerns and needs of all Texans, especially those at a transportation
disadvantage.  House Bill 1621 requires metropolitan, regional, and county
rapid transit authorities to appoint at least one member on their boards
who represents the transportation disadvantaged, and requires municipal
transit departments to consider the interests of the transportation
disadvantaged. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1621 amends the Transportation Code to require a principal
municipality to make its appointments to the following boards so that at
least one of its appointees represents the interests of the transportation
disadvantaged.  These boards include: 

 _the governing board of a metropolitan rapid transit authority;
 
 _the subregional board of a regional transportation authority;
 
 _the board of a municipal transit department; and
 
 _the governing board of a mass transit authority.

The bill includes the elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income
individuals in those who are transportation disadvantaged. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 provides a definition of "transportation
disadvantaged."