SRC-JEC H.B. 1754 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1754
77R3716 JSA-FBy: Gutierrez (Van de Putte)
Redistricting
4/10/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, many elected officials, including county commissioners and
justices of the peace, serve the remainder of their terms after changes in
boundaries due to the redistricting process every ten years. As proposed,
H.B. 1754 authorizes a member of the governing board of a community college
district to serve the remainder of the term to which the trustee was
elected after a community college district's redistricting. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 130.0821(e), Education Code, to require a board
of trustees of a countywide community college district (board), not later
than a certain deadline, to redivide the district into seven trustee
districts if the census data indicates that the population of the most
populous trustee district exceeds a certain number.  Deletes text providing
a different deadline.  Requires each trustee district, at the next district
election following the redistricting, rather than redivision, of the
district, to elect a member of the board unless the board of trustees
determines that trustees shall be elected from the new trustee districts as
provided by Section 130.0826. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 130.0822(j), Education Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 130E, Education Code, by adding Section
130.0826, as follows: 

Sec. 130.0826.  OPTION TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE FOLLOWING REDISTRICTING. (a)
Authorizes the board of trustees of any junior college district that elects
some or all of its members from single-member districts and in which the
trustees serve staggered terms to provide for the trustees in office at the
first election after the district is redistricted to serve for the
remainder of their terms in accordance with this section. 

(b) Requires the trustee districts established by the redistricting plan to
be filled as the staggered terms of trustees in office expire if the board
provides for the trustees in office to serve for the remainder of their
terms in accordance with this section.  Requires the board, when it adopts
a redistricting plan, to determine from which new trustee district the
position of each trustee in office will be filled as it becomes vacant. 

(c) Provides that this section does not authorize a trustee of a junior
college district to continue in office after a redistricting plan takes
effect if the member no longer resides in the district from which the
trustee was elected. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.