S.B. No. 970 AN ACT relating to the qualifications required of the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 201.301, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The commission shall elect an executive director for the department. The director must be [a registered professional engineer in this state and] experienced and skilled in transportation planning and[,] development[, construction,] and in organizational management [maintenance]. SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies only to a person elected by the Texas Transportation Commission as the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation on or after the effective date of this Act. (b) The change in law made by this Act does not affect the right of the person serving as the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation on the effective date of this Act to continue to serve as the executive director of that department. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 970 passed the Senate on April 6, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 970 passed the House on May 27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 1, one present not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor