BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4276

By: VanDeaver

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert the benefits of authorizing certain changes to the membership of the governing board of the Paris Junior College District and to the member election process. C.S.H.B. 4276 seeks to provide for this authorization.

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. 4276 amends the Education Code to authorize the governing board of the Paris Junior College District to provide by resolution or order of the board for the election of nine board members as follows: eight members elected from respective commissioner precincts and evenly allocated among those precincts and one member elected at large. The bill requires such a resolution or order to establish transition terms of office to conform to elections held in even-numbered years and staggered six-year terms. The bill authorizes the governing board by resolution or order of the board to change the date on which the district holds its general election for board members to the November uniform election date. The bill requires the governing board to adjust the terms of office to conform to a change made to the election date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4276 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. Subchapter E, Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 130.0829 to read as follows: Sec. 130.0829. GOVERNING BOARD OF PARIS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the governing board of the Paris Junior College District by resolution or order of the board may decrease the number of board members from nine to seven, with four members elected from respective commissioner precincts and three members elected at large. A resolution or order of the governing board under this subsection must establish transition terms of office to conform to elections held in even-numbered years and staggered six-year terms. (b) Notwithstanding Section 41.0052, Election Code, the governing board of the Paris Junior College District by resolution or order may change the date on which the district holds its general election for board members to the November uniform election date. The governing board shall adjust the terms of office to conform to a change made to the election date under this subsection.	SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 130.0829 to read as follows: Sec. 130.0829. GOVERNING BOARD OF PARIS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the governing board of the Paris Junior College District may provide by resolution or order of the board for the election of nine board members as follows: (1) eight members elected from respective commissioner precincts and evenly allocated among those precincts; and (2) one member elected at large. (b) A resolution or order of the governing board under Subsection (a) must establish transition terms of office to conform to elections held in even-numbered years and staggered six-year terms. (c) Notwithstanding Section 41.0052, Election Code, the governing board of the Paris Junior College District by resolution or order of the board may change the date on which the district holds its general election for board members to the November uniform election date. The governing board shall adjust the terms of office to conform to a change made to the election date under this subsection.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.