By Harris                                             S.B. No. 1087
         77R7801 MTB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the membership of the Public Safety Commission.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Sections 411.003(b), (c), and (d), Government
 1-5     Code, are amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (b)  The commission is composed of seven [three] citizens of
 1-7     this state appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of
 1-8     the senate.  Members must be selected because of their particular
 1-9     [peculiar] qualifications for the position.  Appointments to the
1-10     commission shall be made without regard to race, color, disability,
1-11     sex, religion, age, or national origin.  In making an appointment
1-12     the governor shall consider, among other things, the person's
1-13     knowledge of laws, experience in the enforcement of law, honesty,
1-14     integrity, education, training, and executive ability.
1-15           (c)  Members serve staggered six-year terms with the terms
1-16     [term] of two or three members [one member] expiring January 1 of
1-17     each even-numbered year.
1-18           (d)  The governor shall designate one member of the
1-19     commission as chairman of the commission to serve in that capacity
1-20     at the pleasure of the governor. The commission shall meet at the
1-21     times and places specified by commission rule or at the call of the
1-22     chairman or any four [two] members.
1-23           SECTION 2. (a)  Promptly after this Act takes effect, the
1-24     governor shall appoint four additional members to the Public Safety
 2-1     Commission.  Of those members, the governor shall designate one to
 2-2     serve a term expiring January 1, 2002; one to serve a term expiring
 2-3     January 1, 2004; and two to serve terms expiring January 1, 2006.
 2-4           (b)  In determining the number of members of the Public
 2-5     Safety Commission that constitutes a quorum of the commission, each
 2-6     new membership position created by the amendment by this Act of
 2-7     Section 411.003, Government Code, does not count in that
 2-8     determination until the governor has initially appointed a person
 2-9     to fill the position and the person qualifies for office.
2-10           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.