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2-11 repealed.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.