HBA-JLV H.B. 2459 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2459
By: Ehrhardt
Higher Education
7/17/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, state law required certain community college
board of trustees (board) to divide the district into seven or nine equal
trustee districts.  Many community college districts in metropolitan areas
of the state already had nine trustees, rather than the required seven.
Due to the growing population in many metropolitan areas, community members
in districts with seven trustees believed that an increased number of
trustees would better represent community interests.  Previous statutes
needed to be clarified to allow certain districts to increase their
membership.  House Bill 2459 requires a board to redivide a district into
the appropriate number of districts with an equal number of inhabitants in
each district. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2459 amends the Education Code to require the board of trustees
(board) of certain countywide community college districts to redivide the
district into the appropriate number of trustee districts within 90 days
following the effective date of an order or resolution of the board to
increase the number of board members.  The bill requires the members of the
board to serve for staggered terms of six years with the terms of one-third
of the members expiring in each even-numbered year.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 16, 2001.