89R8857 SCR-D

By: Lozano H.B. No. 3243

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the composition of the board of the Calhoun Port Authority.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 5003.051, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 5003.051. BOARD OF NAVIGATION COMMISSIONERS. The port authority is governed by a board of seven [six] commissioners.

SECTION 2. Section 5003.053, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 5003.053. ELECTION; TERMS. (a) One commissioner is elected by the voters of the entire district. One commissioner is elected from each of the six navigation commissioner precincts as described by Section 5003.052.

(b) The [six] commissioners who represent the six precincts who are elected at the first election after a division of the port authority into new precincts under Section 5003.052 shall draw lots after the election to select three commissioners to serve two-year terms and three commissioners to serve four-year terms. Successor commissioners serve terms as provided by Subsection (c) [(b)].

(c) [(b)] Except as provided by Subsection (b) [(a)], commissioners are elected for staggered four-year terms at elections held each odd-numbered year on the uniform election date in May.

SECTION 3. Section 5003.054(b), Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The application must include an affidavit made by the applicant under oath disclosing that the applicant is:

(1) a bona fide resident of:

(A) if the applicant seeks to represent a precinct, the precinct that the person seeks to represent; or

(B) if the applicant seeks to represent the district at large, Calhoun County; and

(2) a qualified voter who owns real property in the area.

SECTION 4. (a) The Calhoun Port Authority shall hold the first election to elect an at-large commissioner, as provided by Section 5003.053, Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by this Act, on the uniform election date in May 2027.

(b) Not later than the 30th day after the effective date of this Act, the governor shall appoint an at-large commissioner to the board of the Calhoun Port Authority to serve a term that expires on the date that the candidate elected to the office of the at-large commissioner in May 2027 qualifies to serve. The person appointed by the governor must meet the qualifications provided by Section 5003.054(b), Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 5. (a) 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, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313, Government Code.

(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 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) 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 6. 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, 2025.