BILL ANALYSIS |
C.S.H.B. 2160 |
By: Coleman |
County Affairs |
Committee Report (Substituted) |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Regional councils assist governmental entities in responding to the needs of constituents by providing a statewide, multifunctional network for determining the most effective and efficient way to meet local needs and overseeing the delivery of needed services. The general purpose of a regional council is to study and create plans to guide the unified, pervasive development of a region, eliminate duplication, and promote economy and efficiency. A regional council is a useful instrument that enables local government to implement public policy and provide essential services.
C.S.H.B. 2160 provides for legislative representation on certain regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations.
|
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
C.S.H.B. 2160 amends the Local Government Code to require the governing body of a regional planning commission, council of governments, or similar regional planning agency created under provisions relating to regional planning commissions of a region that is consistent with the geographic boundaries of a state planning region to offer a full membership or an ex officio membership on the governing body to a member of the legislature who represents a district located wholly or partly in the region of the commission, council, or agency.
C.S.H.B. 2160 amends the Transportation Code to require the policy board of a metropolitan planning organization, to the extent permissible under federal law, to offer an ex officio, nonvoting membership on the policy board to a member of the legislature who represents a district located wholly or partly in the region of the metropolitan planning organization.
|
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.
|
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE
|
C.S.H.B. 2160 differs from the original, in a provision of the bill requiring the governing body of a regional planning commission, council of governments, or similar regional planning agency to offer certain membership on the governing body to a member of the legislature, by specifying such commission, council, or agency be of a region that is consistent with the geographic boundaries of a state planning region, whereas the original does not make such a specification. The substitute differs from the original by specifying such a member of the legislature as a member who represents a district located wholly or partly in the region of the commission, council, or agency, whereas the original specifies a member who represents the region of the commission, council, or agency.
C.S.H.B. 2160 contains a provision not included in the original requiring the policy board of a metropolitan planning organization, to the extent permissible under federal law, to offer an ex officio, nonvoting membership on the policy board to a member of the legislature who represents a district located wholly or partly in the region of the metropolitan planning organization. |