BILL ANALYSIS
By: Coleman
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) currently has 9 members on its board of directors. Five are appointed by the mayor of City of Houston then confirmed by its city council. Two are elected by the mayors of METRO's 14 other member cities, and two are nominated by the Harris County Judge and confirmed by the County Commissioners. HB 2889 changes the composition of METRO's board by allowing the mayor, still confirmed by the Houston City Council, to appoint only 3 members. Three members are to be appointed by the Harris County Commissioners Court. Two members are to be appointed by a panel composed of the mayors of METRO's 14 other member cities and the county judges of the counties, besides Harris County, having unincorporated area in the authority. One member is to be appointed jointly by the Houston Mayor and the Harris County Commissioners Court.
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. Amends Section 451.501(g), Transportation Code, to prevent Section 451.501 from applying to the board of an authority described by Section 451.5022(a), Transportation Code.
Section 2. Amends Sections 451.502(a) and (f), Transportation Code, to make conforming changes.
Section 3. Amends Subchapter K, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, by adding Section 451.5022. This section applies only to the board of a metropolitan transit authority having a principal municipality with a population of 1.2 million or more. It provides that the board, composed of 9 members, be appointed as follows: (1) three members appointed by the mayor of the principal municipality, subject to confirmation by the city council; (2) three members appointed by the commissioners court of the principal county; (3) two members appointed by a panel composed of the mayors of all municipalities excepting the principal municipality in the authority as well as the county judges of the counties, besides the principal county, having unincorporated area in the authority; and (4) one member appointed jointly by the mayor of the principal municipality, subject to confirmation by the governing body of the principal municipality, and the commissioners court of the principal county. This section also defines "principal county."
Section 4. Provides that this section applies only to an authority governed by a board to which Section 451.5022, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, applies. The changes in law made by this Act will not affect the ability of currently serving board members to fulfill the remainder of their term, and the changes apply only to board members appointed on or after an election to change the composition of this board under Section 451.5022, Transportation Code. A person who is currently a member of this board may be reappointed to the board.
Section 5. Effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
CSHB 2889 modifies the original bill by removing Section 4.