BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 964
By: Shapiro et al.
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the North Texas Tollway Authority board consists of one seat for each of the four founding counties, two additional rotating seats, and one seat appointed by the governor.
S.B. 964 changes the composition of the board by eliminating the two rotating seats and replacing them with an additional seat for each founding county. In addition, new member counties are given a second seat on the board three years after opening a significant operating project.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 366.251, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (c-1) and (d-1), as follows:
(c) Changes the method by which the commissioners court of a county of a regional tollway authority (authority) appoints additional members to the authority’s board of directors (board) to a direct appointment of one additional director, rather than two additional directors, for each county that created the authority under Section 366.031 or in which all or part of a turnpike project of not less than 10 centerline miles in length is located and has been open for use by the traveling public for at least three years.
(c-1) Requires the commissioners court of a county eligible to appoint an additional director under Subsection (c) to ensure that each director appointed resides in a different geographic region in that county. Requires, to the extent possible, appointments to the board to reflect the diversity of the population of the various counties.
(d-1) Requires, if one or more directors are subsequently appointed to the board, the directors other than those subsequent appointees to determine the length of the appointees’ terms in order to comply with Subsection (d) (regarding the division of the board into groups).
SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 366.251(f) (requiring appointments to the board to be made without regard to disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin), Transportation Code.
SECTION 3. Provides that the change made in law by this Act does not affect the term of a member of a board serving on the Act’s effective date. Requires members appointed to fill vacancies occurring on or after the Act’s effective date to be appointed in accordance with Section 366.251, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 4. Provides that the change made in law by this Act does not prohibit a member of a board before the Act’s effective date from being appointed as a member of the board under its new composition if the member has the qualifications required for the position under Section 366.251, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, and otherwise under Chapter 366, Transportation Code.
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2007.