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.