SRC-GSM, VRA S.B. 1811 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1811 By: Whitmire (Smith, Wayne) Intergovernmental Relations 8/28/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the county judge of Harris County receives service of process on behalf of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. S.B. 1811 provides that the current chairman of the board or chief executive officer of a sports and community venue district or the district's registered agent are to receive service of process. 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 Chapter 355, Local Government Code, by adding Section 335.005, as follows: Sec. 335.005. SUITS; SERVICE OF PROCESS. Authorizes a district, through its board, to sue and be sued in any court of this state in the name of the district. Authorizes service of process on a district to be had by serving either the current chairman of the board or the current chief executive officer of the district or its registered agent designated by the district by filing a statement with the office of the secretary of state setting forth: (i) the name of the district, and (ii) the name and address of the district's registered agent, which address must be in the State of Texas. Requires the statement to be executed on behalf of the district by an officer of the district. Authorizes a district to change the name and address of its registered agent by filing another statement with the office of the secretary of state. Requires the prior registered agent for the district, upon such filing, to cease to be the registered agent for the district and service of process is prohibited from being had by serving such prior registered agent. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.