AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The election for the Board of Port Commissioners of the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District of Jefferson County is held on the first Saturday of May in each odd-numbered year in a staggered four-year term. Ports in surrounding areas currently serve six-year terms. Lengthening the term of service creates a stable environment by allowing elected officials to gain more experience in governance and time for projects to be completed.
H.B. 1251 amends current law relating to the election of the members of the Board of Port Commissioners of the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District of Jefferson County.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 9(a) and (c), Chapter 197, Acts of the 58th Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, as follows:
(a) Requires the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District of Jefferson County (district) to hold an election in the district to elect the appropriate number of port commissioners as required to maintain a full Board of Port Commissioners (board) on the uniform election date in May in each odd-numbered year, rather than to hold an election in the district on the first Saturday of May in each odd-numbered year at which time there shall be elected five (5) port commissioners.
(c) Provides that port commissioners serve staggered six-year terms. Deletes existing text providing that except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, the commissioners serve staggered four-year terms.
SECTION 2. (a) Requires a port commissioner who on the effective date of this act serves on the board to continue in office until a successor is elected and qualified.
(b) Requires port commissioners to serve six-year terms of office beginning with terms of port commissioners elected at the election held in 2013, in accordance with Sections 9(a) and (c), Chapter 197, Acts of the 58th Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 3. (a) Provides that the legal notice of the intention to introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies, officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished under Section 59 (Conservation and Development of Natural Resources and Parks and Recreational Facilities; Conservation and Reclamation Districts), Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313 (Notice for Local and Special Laws), Government Code.
(b) Provides that the governor, one of the required recipients, has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
(c) Provides that TCEQ has filed its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives within the required time.
(d) Provides that all requirements of the constitution and laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.
SECTION 4. Effective date, except as provided by Section 2(b) of this Act: upon passage or September 1, 2011.