By Elkins                                             H.B. No. 2172
         77R5602 MTB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the membership of the Texas Transportation Commission.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Sections 201.051(a) and (b), Transportation Code,
 1-5     are amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  The Texas Transportation Commission consists of seven
 1-7     [three] members appointed by the governor with the advice and
 1-8     consent of the senate.
 1-9           (b)  Appointments to the commission shall be made so that
1-10     separate members represent the following areas:
1-11                 (1)  rural areas  in general;
1-12                 (2)  metropolitan areas in general;
1-13                 (3)  the West Texas area;
1-14                 (4)  the Panhandle area;
1-15                 (5)  the East Texas area;
1-16                 (6)  the Central Texas area; and
1-17                 (7)  the South Texas area, including the Lower and
1-18     Middle Rio Grande Valley areas [One member must reside in a rural
1-19     area].
1-20           SECTION 2. Section 201.052, Transportation Code, is amended
1-21     to read as follows:
1-22           Sec. 201.052.  TERMS.  Members of the commission serve
1-23     staggered six-year terms, with the terms of either two or three
1-24     members [one member's term] expiring February 1 of each
 2-1     odd-numbered year.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  Section 201.051(c), Transportation Code, is
 2-3     repealed.
 2-4           SECTION 4. Promptly after this Act takes effect, the governor
 2-5     shall appoint four additional members to the Texas Transportation
 2-6     Commission.  Of those members, the governor shall designate one to
 2-7     serve a term expiring February 1, 2003; one to serve a term
 2-8     expiring February 1, 2005; and two to serve terms expiring February
 2-9     1, 2007.
2-10           SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act in the
2-11     qualifications of members of the Texas Transportation Commission do
2-12     not affect the entitlement of a member serving on the commission
2-13     immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to
2-14     carry out the commission's functions for the remainder of the
2-15     member's term.  The changes in law apply only to a member appointed
2-16     on or after the effective date of this Act.  This Act does not
2-17     prohibit a person who is a member of the commission on the
2-18     effective date of this Act from being reappointed to the commission
2-19     if the person has the qualifications required for a member under
2-20     Section 201.051, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
2-21           SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.