C.S.H.B. 3398 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 3398
By: Crabb
Redistricting
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 77th Legislature adjourned without enacting new congressional
districts after the 2000 federal census.  Ultimately, the U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued an order adopting
congressional districts (PLAN 01151C) for the 2002 elections.  The members
of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas for
the 108th Congress were elected under this plan. 

C.S.H.B. 3398 fulfills the Legislature's constitutional responsibility to
redistrict congressional districts after the 2000 census. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3398 proposes new congressional districts from which the members
of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas for
the 109th Congress will be elected.  The boundaries of the districts, as
well as statistical reports and analysis, are available as PLAN 01180C for
the Texas Legislative Council's Redistricting Application (REDAPPL). 

This act applies to the election of the members of the United States House
of Representatives from the State of Texas beginning with the primary and
general elections in 2004 for members of the 109th Congress.  This Act
does not affect the membership or districts of the United States House of
Representatives of the 108th Congress. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3398 makes significant changes in existing congressional
districts.  The differences between the committee substitute (PLAN 01180C)
and the introduced version (PLAN 001151C) can be found in reports labeled
RED-M337 and RED-M340.