By Lucio                                               S.B. No. 249
         77R3135 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 201.053(a), Transportation Code, is
 2-3     amended to read as follows:
 2-4           (a)  The governor periodically shall designate one member of
 2-5     the commission as the commissioner of transportation, who shall
 2-6     serve as presiding officer of the commission. In making the
 2-7     designation, the governor shall give priority to a member
 2-8     representing a geographic area that has not previously been
 2-9     represented by a commissioner.
2-10           SECTION 4.  Section 201.051(e), Transportation Code, is
2-11     repealed.
2-12           SECTION 5. Promptly after this Act takes effect, the governor
2-13     shall appoint four additional members to the Texas Transportation
2-14     Commission.  Of those members, the governor shall designate one to
2-15     serve a term expiring February 1, 2003; one to serve a term
2-16     expiring February 1, 2005; and two to serve terms expiring February
2-17     1, 2007.
2-18           SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act in the
2-19     qualifications of members of the Texas Transportation Commission do
2-20     not affect the entitlement of a member serving on the commission
2-21     immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to
2-22     carry out the commission's functions for the remainder of the
2-23     member's term.  The changes in law apply only to a member appointed
2-24     on or after the effective date of this Act.  This Act does not
2-25     prohibit a person who is a member of the commission on the
2-26     effective date of this Act from being reappointed to the commission
2-27     if the person has the qualifications required for a member under
 3-1     Section 201.051, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
 3-2           SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.