BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3471

By: Deshotel

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, the board of port commissioners of the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District of Jefferson County recently conducted an informal survey from which they determined that commissioners of other comparable districts are compensated at a considerably higher rate than are the Port Arthur port commissioners. The commissioners and the board president subsequently requested an increase to bring their compensation in line with that of comparable districts. C.S.H.B. 3471 seeks to ameliorate the disparity in compensation among members of district boards with similar responsibilities.

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. 3471 amends Section 11, Chapter 197, Acts of the 58th Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, to require each commissioner on the Board of Port Commissioners of the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District of Jefferson County to receive compensation set by the board, rather than $200 per month for a commissioner and $250 per month for the president.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3471 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 11, Chapter 197, Acts of the 58th Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 11. Each commissioner shall receive for performing duties as a commissioner the sum of $500 [$200] per month, except the president who shall receive $550 [$250] 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 1. Section 11, Chapter 197, Acts of the 58th Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 11. Each commissioner shall receive for performing duties as a commissioner compensation set by the Board of Port Commissioners [the sum of $200 per month, except the president who shall receive $250 per month,] plus actual traveling expenses. The Board of Port Commissioners [board of commissioners] shall set [fix] the compensation of the secretary, general manager, attorneys, engineers, and all other employees, and said board shall set [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, 2013.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.