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. 2-13 * * * * *