1-1     By:  Coleman (Senate Sponsor - Gallegos)              H.B. No. 1621
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House March 26, 2001;
 1-3     March 27, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Intergovernmental Relations; May 4, 2001, reported favorably by the
 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 4, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the representation of the transportation disadvantaged
 1-9     in mass transportation.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Section 451.001, Transportation Code, is amended
1-12     by adding Subdivision (9) to read as follows:
1-13                 (9)  "Transportation disadvantaged" means the elderly,
1-14     persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals.
1-15           SECTION 2. Section 451.502, Transportation Code, is amended
1-16     by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
1-17           (g)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
1-18     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
1-19     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
1-20           SECTION 3. Section 451.5021, Transportation Code, is amended
1-21     by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
1-22           (h)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
1-23     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
1-24     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
1-25           SECTION 4.  Section 452.001, Transportation Code, is amended
1-26     by adding Subdivision (15) to read as follows:
1-27                 (15)  "Transportation disadvantaged" has the meaning
1-28     assigned by Section 451.001.
1-29           SECTION 5. Section 452.562, Transportation Code, is amended
1-30     by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
1-31           (f)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
1-32     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
1-33     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
1-34           SECTION 6. Section 452.574, Transportation Code, is amended
1-35     by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-36           (c)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
1-37     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
1-38     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
1-39           SECTION 7.  Section 453.001, Transportation Code, is amended
1-40     by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:
1-41                 (5)  "Transportation disadvantaged" has the meaning
1-42     assigned by Section 451.001.
1-43           SECTION 8. Subchapter B, Chapter 453, Transportation Code, is
1-44     amended by adding Section 453.061 to read as follows:
1-45           Sec. 453.061.  TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED. The board shall
1-46     consider the interests of the transportation disadvantaged in
1-47     making decisions under this chapter.
1-48           SECTION 9.  Section 457.001, Transportation Code, is amended
1-49     by adding Subdivision (8) to read as follows:
1-50                 (8)  "Transportation disadvantaged" has the meaning
1-51     assigned by Section 451.001.
1-52           SECTION 10. Section 457.052, Transportation Code, is amended
1-53     by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
1-54           (f)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments
1-55     to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated
1-56     to represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
1-57           SECTION 11. The changes in law made by this Act in the
1-58     qualifications of certain board members of metropolitan rapid
1-59     transit authorities, regional transportation authorities, and
1-60     county mass transit authorities do not affect the entitlement of a
1-61     member serving on an authority immediately before the effective
1-62     date of this Act to continue to carry out the functions of the
1-63     authority for the remainder of the member's term.  The changes in
1-64     law apply only to a member appointed on or after the effective date
 2-1     of this Act.  This Act does not prohibit a person who is a member
 2-2     of a metropolitan rapid transit authority, a regional
 2-3     transportation authority, or a county mass transit authority on the
 2-4     effective date of this Act from being reappointed to the authority
 2-5     if the person has the qualifications required under Section
 2-6     451.502, 451.5021, 452.562, 452.574, or 457.052, Transportation
 2-7     Code, as amended by this Act.
 2-8           SECTION 12.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-9     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-10     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-11     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-12     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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