SRC-SEW C.S.S.B. 249 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 249
77R9785 MTB-DBy: Lucio
State Affairs
3/23/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Transportation Commission (commission) consists of
three members and provides policy direction regarding the state's
transportation needs.  However, increases in state transportation needs and
government responsibilities call for a larger and more versatile
commission.  An expanded commission would:  allow for a fuller range of
state interests to be represented; make the commission more accessible to
the public to discuss citizens' concerns, issues, and interests; allow the
commission members to specialize in areas such as strategic network needs,
technology applications, innovative finance, inter-modal connections, and
alternative modes; improve customer service; and allow for the
incorporation of a broader range of issues and considerations into the
policy development process.  As proposed, C.S.S.B. 249 increases the number
of members on the Texas Transportation Commission from three to five.   

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 201.051, Transportation Code, to require the
Texas Transportation Commission (commission) to consist of five (rather
than three) members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent
of the senate. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 201.052, Transportation Code, to require members
of the commission to serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of
either one or two members (rather than one member's term) expiring February
1 of each odd-numbered year. 

SECTION 3. Requires the governor to appoint two additional members to the
commission promptly after the passage of this Act: one to serve a term
expiring February 1, 2005, one to serve a term expiring February 1, 2007.
Provides that, until all appointees have taken office a quorum of the
commission is a majority of the number of members who are qualified. 

SECTION 4. Effective date:  September 1, 2001. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. Amends As Filed S.B. 249, Section 201.051, Transportation Code,
by providing that the Texas Transportation Commission consists of five,
rather than seven as originally proposed, members.  Omits text in original
proposed Subsection (b) requiring appointments to the commission to be made
so that separate members represent certain areas of Texas.  Omits proposed
deletion of language requiring one member to reside in a rural area.  

SECTION 2.  No change.

 SECTION 3.  Amends As Filed S.B. 249 by omitting text in original SECTION
3 regarding prioritizing appointments to the commission.  Redesignates text
from original SECTION 5 as SECTION 3 and amends the text by requiring the
governor to appoint two additional members to the commission, rather than
four, with one member's term expiring February 1, 2005, and one member's
term expiring February 1, 2007.  Provides that, until all appointees have
taken office a quorum of the commission is a majority of the number of
members who are qualified. 

SECTION 4.  Omits original text regarding repealer.  Redesignates text from
original SECTION 7. No changes in text. 

Omits original proposed SECTION 6.