By: Cook S.B. No. 2770
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to equitable representation in decision making for
transportation planning.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 201.05l(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 [be made without
regard to race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national
origin of the appointees and shall] reflect the diversity of the
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.