By Coleman                                            H.B. No. 1621
         77R5263 MTB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the representation of the transportation disadvantaged
 1-3     in mass transportation.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 451.502, Transportation Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
 1-7           (g)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
 1-8     to the board so that at least one of its appointees represents the
 1-9     interests of the transportation disadvantaged, including the
1-10     elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals.
1-11           SECTION 2. Section 451.5021, Transportation Code, is amended
1-12     by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
1-13           (h)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
1-14     to the board so that at least one of its appointees represents the
1-15     interests of the transportation disadvantaged, including the
1-16     elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals.
1-17           SECTION 3. Section 452.562, Transportation Code, is amended
1-18     by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
1-19           (f)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
1-20     to the board so that at least one of its appointees represents the
1-21     interests of the transportation disadvantaged, including the
1-22     elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals.
1-23           SECTION 4. Section 452.574, Transportation Code, is amended
1-24     by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
 2-1           (c)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
 2-2     to the board so that at least one of its appointees represents the
 2-3     interests of the transportation disadvantaged, including the
 2-4     elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals.
 2-5           SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 453, Transportation Code, is
 2-6     amended by adding Section 453.061 to read as follows:
 2-7           Sec. 453.061.  TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED. The board shall
 2-8     consider the interests of the transportation disadvantaged,
 2-9     including the elderly,  persons with disabilities, and low-income
2-10     individuals in making decisions under this chapter.
2-11           SECTION 6. Section 457.052, Transportation Code, is amended
2-12     by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
2-13           (f)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
2-14     to the board so that at least one of its appointees represents the
2-15     interests of the transportation disadvantaged, including the
2-16     elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals.
2-17           SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act in the
2-18     qualifications of certain board members of metropolitan rapid
2-19     transit authorities, regional transportation authorities, and
2-20     county mass transit authorities do not affect the entitlement of a
2-21     member serving on an authority immediately before the effective
2-22     date of this Act to continue to carry out the functions of the
2-23     authority for the remainder of the member's term.  The changes in
2-24     law apply only to a member appointed on or after the effective date
2-25     of this Act.  This Act does not prohibit a person who is a member
2-26     of a metropolitan rapid transit authority, a regional
2-27     transportation authority, or a county mass transit authority on the
 3-1     effective date of this Act from being reappointed to the authority
 3-2     if the person has the qualifications required under Section
 3-3     451.502, 451.5021, 452.562, 452.574, or 457.052, Transportation
 3-4     Code, as amended by this act.
 3-5           SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 3-6     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 3-7     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 3-8     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 3-9     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-10                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
3-11           Amend H.B. 1621 to include the following definition of
3-12     transportation disadvantaged:  the elderly, persons with
3-13     disabilities, and low-income individuals.
3-14           Amend H.B. 1621 on page 1, Section 451.502, Transportation
3-15     Code, by striking section (g) on lines 7-10 and replace with the
3-16     following:
3-17           (g)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
3-18     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
3-19     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
3-20           Amend H.B. 1621 on page 1, Section 451.5021, Transportation
3-21     Code, by striking section (h) on lines 13-16 and replace with the
3-22     following:
3-23           (h)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
3-24     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
3-25     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
3-26           Amend H.B. 1621 on page 1, Section 452.562, Transportation
3-27     Code, by striking section (f) on lines 19-22 and replace with the
 4-1     following:
 4-2           (f)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
 4-3     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
 4-4     to represent the interest of the transportation disadvantaged.
 4-5           Amend H.B. 1621 on page 2, Section 452.574, Transportation
 4-6     Code, by striking (c) on lines 1-4 and replace with the following:
 4-7           (c)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
 4-8     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
 4-9     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
4-10           Amend H.B. 1621 on page 2, Section 453.061 Transportation
4-11     Disadvantaged, by striking lines 8-10 and replace with the
4-12     following:
4-13     "consider the interest of the transportation disadvantaged in
4-14     making decisions under this chapter."
4-15           Amend H.B. 1621 on page 2, by striking (f) on lines 13-16 and
4-16     replace with the following:
4-17           (f)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
4-18     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
4-19     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
4-20                                                                Ehrhardt