88R12240 MZM-F
By: Morales Shaw H.B. No. 5156
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of fair decision making policies by
metropolitan planning organizations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 472, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 472.037 to read as follows:
Sec. 472.037. FAIR DECISION MAKING POLICY. (a) Each
metropolitan planning organization shall develop and implement a
policy for fair decision making in the organization's planning
process. In developing the policy, a metropolitan planning
organization shall:
(1) analyze the current representation and voting
structure of the organization's policy board and any existing
committees;
(2) consider:
(A) the current and projected population of the
area served by the organization; and
(B) the projected number of jobs that will be
created by each potential project considered by the organization;
(3) propose changes to ensure fair and proportional
representation on the organization's policy board and any existing
committees of:
(A) urban, suburban, and rural communities
served by the organization;
(B) individuals served by the organization who do
not predominantly travel by passenger vehicle; and
(C) historically underrepresented and
underserved communities served by the organization; and
(4) establish guidelines to achieve fair
representation, including:
(A) proposing new joint powers agreements and
bylaws to remedy problems related to fair representation;
(B) guidance for adopting proportional voting
systems based on residential populations of areas represented by
the organization's policy board and any existing committees to
provide equal representation for all residents served by the
organization; and
(C) guidance for the organization to:
(i) include individuals from diverse
backgrounds on organization committees; and
(ii) ensure that the organization is
receiving input from individuals from diverse backgrounds that are
served by the organization.
(b) Not later than July 31, 2024, each metropolitan planning
organization shall submit a report to the department summarizing
the policy developed by the organization under Subsection (a).
This subsection expires August 31, 2024.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.