SRC-AMY H.B. 686 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 686 78R4005 ATP-DBy: Lewis (Nelson) Intergovernmental Relations 5/9/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law exempts from the requirement that a county commissioner attend 16 hours of continuing education in a classroom setting, a county commissioner who serves in counties with a population of 1.5 million, has served continuously for 12 or more years, and attends at least 15 hours of staff briefing on continuing education subjects in a 12-month period. H.B. 686 decreases the population requirement necessary to qualify for the continuing education exemption from 1.5 million to 1.3 million. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.0025(e), Local Government Code, to decrease the population of a county from 1.5 million to 1.3 million, in the list of qualification for a county commissioner's exemption from this section. SECTION 2. Effective date: January 1, 2004.