BILL ANALYSIS C.S.S.B. 927 By: Zaffirini State Affairs 4-11-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND The City of Laredo has agreed to undertake the construction and operation of the Laredo Northwest International Toll Bridge, or Laredo Bridge #4, with the Texas Turnpike Authority, utilizing $11.3 million of federal interstate maintenance funds loaned to the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA) by the Texas Department of Transportation (department). This bridge will help alleviate congestion on Interstate 35 by diverting heavy truck traffic to the new bridge and accompanying roadways. Funds earned by the City of Laredo through tolls collected at the bridge will be paid to TTA, which will forward the revenue to the department as repayment of the loan. When the loan is fully repaid, TTA will transfer ownership of the bridge to the City of Laredo. The entities involved entered into a Memorandum of Cooperative Intent in January 1995, which defined the roles of each respective participant in this project. Statutory authority for the transfer of ownership of the bridge to the City of Laredo is a component of this agreement. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 927 authorizes the Texas Turnpike Authority to lease, sell or otherwise convey a turnpike project to a municipality, and authorizes a municipality to lease, buy, or otherwise receive a turnpike project. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 12c(a) and (b), Article 6674v, V.T.C.S. (Turnpike Projects), as follows: (a) Applies this section only to a county, local government corporation serving a county, or a certain adjacent county in a joint turnpike authority, and a municipality with a population of more than 120,000 that is adjacent to the United Mexican States if the Texas Turnpike Authority (authority), the Texas Transportation Commission, and the governor approve the transfer of a Turnpike Project as being in the best interests of the state and the municipality. Makes nonsubstantive and conforming changes. (b) Authorizes the authority to lease, sell or otherwise convey a turnpike project to a municipality, among other political subdivisions. Authorizes a municipality to lease, buy, or otherwise receive a turnpike project. SECTION 2. Amends Section 12d, Article 6674v, V.T.C.S., to make conforming changes. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.