SRC-JRN S.B. 950 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 950 By: Patterson State Affairs 3-14-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, state law does not allow the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to award grant funds to privately-owned airports, and recipients of aviation funding grants are required to retain control of airport facilities for at least 20 years. The Routine Airport Maintenance Program, designed to extend the life of airport improvements, encourages airport operators to perform routine and preventative maintenance, which may require a minimum local contribution of 50 percent. This bill provides certain measures of assistance for airports by encouraging participation in the Routine Airport Maintenance Program, and allowing TxDOT to administer federal aviation funds to privately owned reliever airports. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 950 provides certain measures of assistance for airports by encouraging participation in the routine airport maintenance program, and allowing TxDOT to administer federal aviation funds to privately owned reliever airports. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.105(b), Transportation Code, to require the Texas Transportation Commission (commission) to require the airport or facility to remain open to the public, except for a grant made for the purpose of carrying out routine airport maintenance, rather than for facilities to remain in the control of each political subdivision involved. Requires the commission to require the grant recipient, rather than the political subdivision, to disclose the source of all funds for the project. SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.114, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 21.114. AGENT FOR FEDERAL FUNDS. Provides that the Texas Department of Transportation (department) is the agent of each person eligible for federal grant funds, among other entities, for the purpose of receiving funds to benefit a reliever or non-primary commercial service airport. Deletes existing Subsection (b). Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 22.018, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 22.018. DESIGNATION OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AS AGENT IN CONTRACTING AND SUPERVISING. Authorizes a person eligible for federal airport improvement grant funds to designate the department as its agent. Authorizes the department in acting as the agent of a local government or other person under this section, to make each contract in accordance with the law. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 4. Amends Section 22.055, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 22.055. FEDERAL AND STATE AID; OTHER GRANTS AND LOANS. Provides that a local government or other person, including a public entity, may utilize grants and loans for purposes stated in this chapter. Requires the chief financial officer of the grant or loan recipient, rather than the local government, to deposit money in separately designated funds, unless otherwise prescribed. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 5. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.