HBA-LCA H.B. 2178 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2178 By: Woolley Urban Affairs 3/30/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) has nine directors on its board. Five are appointed by the mayor of the City of Houston and confirmed by the city council, two are appointed by the Harris County judge, and two are appointed by the mayors of the other cities in METRO's service area. Additionally, current law does not allow Harris County METRO to use member unit withdrawal provisions contained in the Transportation Code. H.B. 2178 provides for the new composition of the METRO governing board, and also amends the Transportation Code to include Harris County in the member use withdrawal provisions. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 451.501(g), Transportation Code, to provide that this section (Board Membership) does not apply to the board of transit authority (authority) described by Section 451.5022(a), Transportation Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 2. Amends Sections 451.502(a) and (f), Transportation Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter K, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, by adding Section 451.5022, as follows: Sec. 451.5022. BOARD COMPENSATION; AUTHORITY HAVING A PRINCIPAL MUNICIPALITY WITH A POPULATION A GREATER THAN 1.2 MILLION. (a) Provides that this section applies only to the board of a transit authority (authority) having a principal municipality with a population of more than 1.2 million. (b) Sets forth the composition of a nine-member board, as follows: _four members appointed by the mayor of the principal municipality and who are subject to confirmation by the governing body of the principal municipality; _three members appointed by the commissioners court of the principal county; and _two members appointed by a panel, composed of mayors and county judges of municipalities in the authority but excluding the mayor of the principal municipality and the county judge of the principal county in the authority. (c) Defines "principal county" in this section. SECTION 4. Amends Section 451.602, Transportation Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 5. Provides that this section applies only to an authority governed by a board to which Section 451.5022 applies. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.