BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2993

By: Phillips

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the appointment of members to the public transportation advisory committee by the Texas Transportation Commission would be in the best interest of the committee and the entire state. C.S.H.B. 2993 seeks to address this issue by changing the manner by which members are appointed to the committee.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 2993 amends the Transportation Code to change the manner by which members are appointed to the public transportation advisory committee from appointment by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives to appointment by the Texas Transportation Commission and to revise the number of committee members by requiring the committee to include at least two members who represent a diverse cross-section of public transportation providers, at least two members who represent a diverse cross-section of transportation users, and at least two members who represent the general public.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2993 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Sections 455.004(b), and (c), Transportation  Code, are amended to read as follows: (b)  The commission shall appoint the members of the advisory committee.  The committee must include at least members of the committee shall be appointed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall each appoint: (1)  two members who represent one member who represents a diverse cross-section of public transportation providers; (2)  two members who represent one member who represents a diverse cross-section of transportation users; and (3)  two members who represent one member who represents the general public. (c)  A member serves at the pleasure of the officer who  appointed the member.  A member is not entitled to compensation for service on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses the member incurs in performing committee duties.	SECTION 1.  Sections 455.004(b) and (c), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: (b)  The commission shall appoint the members of the committee.  The committee must include at least [shall be appointed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall each appoint]: (1)  two members [one member] who represent [represents] a diverse cross-section of public transportation providers; (2)  two members [one member] who represent [represents] a diverse cross-section of transportation users; and (3)  two members [one member] who represent [represents] the general public. (c)  A member serves at the pleasure of the commission [officer who appointed the member].  A member is not entitled to compensation for service on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses the member incurs in performing committee duties.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act to the public transportation advisory committee does not affect the entitlement of a member serving on the committee immediately before the effective date of this Act to serve the remainder of the member's term.	No equivalent provision.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.