HBA-BSM S.B. 1061 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1061 By: Lindsay Urban Affairs 4/16/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority may only conduct an election for the purpose of issuance of bonds payable from taxes or for the imposition of a tax. However, it may be advantageous for people from the Houston area to be able to vote in an election on transit projects for the area so that the support of local residents can be gauged. Senate Bill 1061 authorizes the board of a rapid transit authority in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 1.2 million or more to call an election for the purposes of determining the will of the voters. 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 Senate Bill 1061 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a governing board of a rapid transit authority (board) in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 1.2 million to call an election to determine the voters' will on any issue that the board is authorized to decide on or on the exercise of any discretionary power of the board. The bill requires the board at the time the election is ordered to specify whether the results of the election are binding on the authority. The bill requires the board to specify the ballot proposition for a called election. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.