S.B. 1934 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1934 By: Hinojosa Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Port of Corpus Christi Authority is vital to the economic success of South Texas. Significant facilities that are dependent upon the Port of Corpus Christi are located within San Patricio County, making their voice on the Port Authority a necessity. S.B. 1934 allows for the annexation for the appointment of one person, a citizen from the United States of America from San Patricio County, to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County by the Commissioners Court of San Patricio County. It also provides that all port commissioners will perform financial disclosures in the same manner as the county commissioners. 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 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Defines "authority," "commissioners court," and "port commission." SECTION 2. CONFIRMATION ELECTION. (a) Requires the commissioners court, on a uniform election date in 2003, to call and hold an election in San Patricio County to allow for voting for or against the annexation of San Patricio County to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority. (b) Requires the commissioners court to conduct the election as provided by Sections 62.296 (Notice of Election) and 62.298 (Election Officials), Water Code, performing all the duties of the commission of the annexing district provided by those sections. (c) Requires the commissioners court to canvass the returns of the election and certify the election result to the port commission. (d) Requires the port commission, if a majority of the voters voting in the election favor the annexation of San Patricio County, to enter and have recorded an order of annexation as provided by Sections 62.299(c) (regarding actions taken if a majority of voter favor annexation and the proposition to assume the bonded debt fails to carry) and (d) (regarding an order of annexation), Water Code. (e) Authorizes another confirmation election to be held not sooner than five years after the date of the first confirmation election, if the annexation of San Patricio County is not approved at the election held under Subsection (a) of this section. Authorizes confirmation elections to be held every five years until the annexation of San Patricio County is approved. (f) Requires a confirmation election to be conducted as provided by the Election Code, except as provided by this section. SECTION 3. PORT COMMISSION. Provides that if the annexation of San Patricio County is approved at an election held under Section 2 of this Act, certain conditions apply. SECTION 4. SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS. Requires any subsequent election, if the annexation of San Patricio County is approved at an election held under Section 2 of this Act, to be held in the authority as a whole, and not on a county-by-county basis. SECTION 5. Amends Chapter 397, Acts of the 68th Legislature, Regular Session, 1983, by adding Section 4A, as follows: Sec. 4A. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. Requires a port commissioner, not later than April 30 each year, to file with the Texas Ethics Commission a financial statement that complies with Sections 572.022-572.024 (Reporting Categories, Contents of Financial Statement in General, and Information About Services for Lobbyists or Lobbyist), Government Code. Provides that a statement filed under this section is a public record. SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.