Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 466	Senate Author:  Hinojosa et al.
Effective:  5-18-13	House Sponsor:  Harper-Brown et al.

            Senate Bill 466 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to assume responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Transportation with respect to duties under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and duties under other federal environmental laws. The bill authorizes TxDOT to assume responsibilities under specified federal law relating to categorical exclusions of certain designated activities regarding environmental assessments or environmental impact statements and under specified federal law relating to the surface transportation project delivery program. The bill authorizes TxDOT to enter into one or more agreements with the U.S. secretary of transportation related to the designation of such categorical exclusions or to the delivery program.

            Senate Bill 466 authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions and to adopt relevant federal environmental standards as the standards for Texas for a program described by the bill's provisions. Finally, sovereign immunity to suit in federal court and from liability is waived and abolished with regard to the compliance, discharge, or enforcement of a responsibility assumed by TxDOT under the bill's provisions, and the waiver and abolishment do not create liability for TxDOT that exceeds the liability created under the related federal law.