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By:  Lindsay                                                              S.B. No. 119



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the appointment of the governing body of certain 
metropolitan rapid transit authorities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Section 451.501(g), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(g)  This section does not apply to the board of an authority 
described by Section 451.5021(a) or 451.5022(a).
	SECTION 2.   Sections 451.502(a) and (f), Transportation 
Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The five board members under Section 451.501(a)(1) are 
appointed by the governing body of the principal municipality [, 
except in an authority having a principal municipality with a 
population of more than 1.2 million, the five board members are 
appointed by the mayor of the principal municipality and are 
subject to confirmation by the governing body of the principal 
municipality].
	(f)  This section does not apply to the board of an authority 
described by Section 451.5021(a) or 451.5022(a).
	SECTION 3.   Subchapter K, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 451.5022 to read as follows:
	Sec. 451.5022.  BOARD COMPOSITION; AUTHORITY HAVING 
PRINCIPAL MUNICIPALITY WITH POPULATION GREATER THAN 1.2 MILLION. 
(a)  This section applies only to the board of an authority having a 
principal municipality with a population of more than 1.2 million.
	(b)  The board is composed of nine members who are appointed 
as follows:
		(1)  four members appointed by the mayor of the 
principal municipality who are subject to confirmation by the 
governing body of the principal municipality;
		(2)  three members appointed by the commissioners court 
of the principal county; and
		(3)  two members appointed by a panel composed of:                     
			(A)  the mayors of the municipalities in the 
authority, excluding the mayor of the principal municipality; and
			(B)  the county judges of the counties having 
unincorporated area in the authority, excluding the county judge of 
the principal county.
	(c)  The principal municipality shall make its appointments 
to the board so that at least one of the appointees is designated to 
represent the interests of the transportation disadvantaged.
	(d)  In this section, "principal county" has the meaning 
assigned by Section 451.501(f).
	SECTION 4.   (a)  This section applies only to a metropolitan 
rapid transit authority governed by a board to which Section 
451.5022, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, applies.
	(b)  The changes in law made by this Act do not affect the 
entitlement of a member serving on the board immediately before the 
effective date of this Act to continue to carry out the member's 
functions for the remainder of the member's term.  On the expiration 
of the first term of a member appointed by the mayor of the 
principal municipality, as defined by Section 451.001, 
Transportation Code, that occurs on or after the effective date of 
this Act, the commissioners court of the principal county, as 
defined by Section 451.501, Transportation Code, shall make an 
appointment to fill the vacancy.
	SECTION 5.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.