S.B. 734 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 734
By: Ratliff
Urban Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Chapter 25 of the Local Government Code provides a mechanism
for voters in a municipality with a population of less than 5,000 to adopt
a city manager form of government by petition and election.  However, only
273 of approximately 881 general law cities under 5,000 in population have
actually adopted Chapter 25 of the Local Government Code, instead
employing city administrators or city managers by choice.  As proposed,
S.B. 734 clarifies the authority of the governing body of a general law
city to appoint, as authorized by the Texas Local Government Code Chapter
22 or Chapter 23, officers or employees to assist with the management of
city business without the necessity of an election. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 25.051, Local Government Code, as follows:

 (a)  Created from existing text.

(b)  Provides that this chapter does not limit the authority of the
governing body of a general law municipality to appoint and prescribe the
powers and duties of a municipal officer or employee under Chapter 22 or
23. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date

EFFECTIVE DATE:  September 1, 2003