subregional transit boards get one seat per city

The text as introduced · 547 words

89R15520 JAM-D

By: Parker
S.B. No. 2118

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the composition and authority of certain subregional

boards of regional transportation authorities.

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

SECTION 1. Section 452.112, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) Each member of the subregional board shall appoint an

equal number of members to the committee.

SECTION 2. Section 452.543(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Section 452.5725(a), a [ A ]

subregional board shall elect from its membership a presiding

officer, assistant presiding officer, and secretary.

SECTION 3. Section 452.572, Transportation Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 452.572. BOARD MEMBERSHIP; MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATION.

(a) The subregional board is composed of one member [ 15 members ]

appointed by the governing body [ bodies ] of each municipality [ the

municipalities ] in the subregional authority.

(b) The member appointed by the governing body of the

principal [ a ] municipality is entitled to [ appoint more than one

board member may appoint a number of members less than the number

allocated to the municipality. Those appointed members may ] cast

three [ the same number of ] votes [ as the number of members

allocated, but a member may not cast a divided vote ].

SECTION 4. Subchapter O, Chapter 452, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 452.5725 to read as follows:

Sec. 452.5725. PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) The position of

presiding officer of a subregional board rotates among the members

of the board in an order established by the board. A term as

presiding officer is two years.

(b) A member of the subregional board may not serve

consecutive terms as presiding officer.

SECTION 5. Section 452.578(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) Members [ Each member ] of the subregional board serve for

[ serves a ] staggered terms [ term ] of two years , with the terms of

one-half of the members, or as near to one-half as possible,

expiring [ . Eight of the terms begin ] on July 1 of each year

[ odd-numbered years, and seven terms begin on July 1 of

even-numbered years ].

SECTION 6. The following provisions of the Transportation

Code are repealed:

(1) Section 452.573;

(2) Section 452.574(c);

(3) Section 452.575;

(4) Section 452.576;

(5) Section 452.577; and

(6) Section 452.578(b).

SECTION 7. (a) On the effective date of this Act, the terms

of office of the members of a subregional board described by

Subchapter O, Chapter 452, Transportation Code, as that subchapter

existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, expire.

(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this

Act, the appropriate appointing entity shall appoint the members of

a subregional board under Section 452.572, Transportation Code, as

amended by this Act.

(c) As soon as practicable after the members of a

subregional board have been appointed under Section 452.572,

Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, the board members

shall draw lots to determine which board members serve terms

expiring July 1, 2026, and which board members serve terms expiring

July 1, 2027.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.