SRC-JBJ S.J.R. 4 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.J.R. 4
77R2433 ATP-DBy: Gallegos
Intergovernmental Relations
4/18/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the size of commissioner's precincts in Texas range from 28
persons to more than 800,000 persons.  The average population per
commissioner's precinct in Harris County is greater than 800,000, with the
population of each commissioners precinct being larger than that of a
United States congressional district.  As proposed, S.J.R. 4 adds
provisions to increase the number of county commissioners in Harris County
from four to six. 

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 18(b), Article V, Texas Constitution, to require
Harris County to be divided into six, rather than four, commissioners
precincts.  Makes nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends the Texas Constitution by adding the following temporary
provision: 

TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) Provides that this temporary provision applies to
the constitutional amendment proposed by the 77th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2001, to increase the number of county commissioners in Harris
County from four to six. 

(b) Requires the Commissioners Court of Harris County, under that
constitutional amendment, to divide the county into six commissioners
precincts so that: 

     _the boundaries of the initial six precincts can take effect on
January 1, 2003; and 

     _the two additional offices of county commissioner that initially
result from the division of the county into six commissioners precincts can
be filled at the general election for state and county officers held in
November 2002. 

(c) Provides that of the persons elected to the two additional offices at
the election in November 2002, one serves an initial term expiring January
1, 2005, and one serves an initial term expiring January 1, 2007. 

SECTION 3. Requires the proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted
to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.  Requires the
ballot to be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The
constitutional amendment to increase the number of county commissioners in
Harris County from four to six"