By:  Maxey                                             H.B. No. 352
       73R2122 DRH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the approval of Texas Department of Transportation
    1-3  highway projects by the governing body of a metropolitan planning
    1-4  organization.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Chapter 1, Title 116, Revised Statutes, is
    1-7  amended by adding Article 6673n to read as follows:
    1-8        Art. 6673n.  COORDINATION WITH METROPOLITAN PLANNING
    1-9  ORGANIZATIONS.  Construction of a highway project of the department
   1-10  that is located within the area of a metropolitan planning
   1-11  organization, as described by 23 U.S.C. Section 134(b), may not
   1-12  begin unless the project has been approved by the governing body of
   1-13  the metropolitan planning organization.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
   1-15  to a highway project of the Texas Department of Transportation for
   1-16  which construction is begun on or after the effective date of this
   1-17  Act.
   1-18        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   1-19        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-21  emergency   and   an   imperative   public   necessity   that   the
   1-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.