BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 964

80R4676 JRJ-F                                                                                                                By: Shapiro

                                                                                                 Transportation & Homeland Security

                                                                                                                                              3/9/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

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.

 

As proposed, S.B. 964 changes the composition of the board by eliminating the two rotating seats, 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 Subsection (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 that has been open for use for at least three years is located.

 

(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 appointee’s terms in order to comply with Subsection (d) (regarding the division of the board into groups).

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that the change made in law by this Act does not affect the term of a director 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 3.  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.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.