Bill Text: TX HB4520 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to equitable representation in decision making for transportation planning.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-20 - Left pending in committee [HB4520 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB4520-Introduced.html
87R10750 JTS-F | ||
By: Morales Shaw | H.B. No. 4520 |
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relating to equitable representation in decision making for | ||
transportation planning. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Sections 201.051(b) and (i), Transportation | ||
Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) The members shall be appointed to reflect the diverse | ||
geographic regions and population groups of this state. One member | ||
must reside in a rural area and be a registered voter of a county | ||
with a population of less than 150,000. One member must have | ||
experience as a frequent transit user, bicycle or pedestrian | ||
commuter, or as a person with a disability that has affected their | ||
use of the transportation system. | ||
(i) Appointments to the commission shall [ |
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population of the state as a whole. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 201.6016 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 201.6016. EQUITABLE DECISION MAKING POLICY. The | ||
department shall develop and implement a policy for equitable | ||
decision making in the transportation planning process. The policy | ||
must: | ||
(1) analyze race, ethnicity, gender, disability, and | ||
geographic representation in positions and on boards, commissions, | ||
and committees responsible for transportation planning-related | ||
decisions, including: | ||
(A) metropolitan planning organization | ||
committees; | ||
(B) department executive leadership; | ||
(C) the commission; and | ||
(D) governing bodies of: | ||
(i) regional mobility authorities, county | ||
toll road authorities, and regional tollway authorities; | ||
(ii) transit authorities; and | ||
(iii) port authorities; | ||
(2) analyze public participation in the department's | ||
planning processes to ensure people of all races, ethnicities, | ||
genders, abilities, socio-economic status, languages, and | ||
geographic locations are successfully participating in those | ||
processes; and | ||
(3) establish guidelines for the entities under | ||
Subdivision (1) to achieve equitable representation, including at | ||
least the following: | ||
(A) proposing new joint powers agreements and | ||
bylaws to remedy problems; | ||
(B) guidance on improving public processes; | ||
(C) guidance for adopting proportional voting | ||
systems based upon residential populations of member governments to | ||
provide equal representation for all residents in decisions of | ||
entities such as metropolitan planning organizations; and | ||
(D) guidance for entities to include people with | ||
disabilities at all levels of decision making. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |