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.