H.B. No. 1403




AN ACT

relating to the board of port commissioners of the Port of Beaumont 
Navigation District of Jefferson County.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Sections 8 and 12, Chapter 147, Acts of the 51st 
Legislature, Regular Session, 1949, are amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 8.  As soon as practicable after the election of the 
first Board of Port Commissioners, and as soon as practicable after 
the election of each succeeding Board of Port Commissioners, there 
shall be elected by the board a president, vice-president, and 
secretary and treasurer of the district to serve during the tenure 
of office of the Board of Port Commissioners so electing the same.  
The president and vice-president shall be members of the Board of 
Port Commissioners, but the office of secretary and treasurer, 
which is here constituted as one office, may be filled by a person 
not a member of the Board of Port Commissioners.  Four [Three] 
commissioners shall constitute a quorum at any meeting[, and the 
concurrence of three shall be sufficient in all matters pertaining 
to the business of the district].  The board of commissioners shall 
employ and prescribe the duties of all employees necessary for the 
proper handling of its business and the operation of the district.  
They may employ a general manager for the district and may give the 
person so employed full authority in the management and operation 
of the district's affairs, subject only to the orders of the board 
of commissioners.  The commissioners shall be the managing officers 
in charge of all the business and affairs of the district and shall 
make all contracts pertaining thereto.  All vacancies in the office 
of commissioners and other officers shall be filled by appointment 
by the board of commissioners for the unexpired term.  If the number 
of commissioners shall be reduced to three [two], such remaining 
commissioners shall call a special election to fill the vacancies.  
All commissioners and officers shall serve until their successors 
have qualified.  A regular office shall be established and 
maintained for the conduct of the district's business either within 
the district or any place within the City of Beaumont.
	Sec. 12.  Each commissioner shall receive for his services 
the sum of $500 [Three Hundred ($300.00) Dollars] per month, except 
the president who shall receive $550 [Three Hundred Fifty ($350.00) 
Dollars] per month, plus actual traveling expenses.  The board of 
commissioners shall fix the compensation of the secretary, general 
manager, attorneys, engineers, and all other employees, and said 
board shall fix and determine the term and time of employment of all 
officers and employees of the district; provided that all officers 
and employees of the district, except the commissioners themselves, 
shall hold their offices subject to the will of the Board of Port 
Commissioners.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 1403 was passed by the House on April 
29, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 1403 was passed by the Senate on May 
23, 2005, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor