By Keel                                         H.B. No. 2232

      75R8437 DRH-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the operation of a fixed rail transit system by certain

 1-3     metropolitan rapid transit authorities.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 451.362, Transportation Code, is amended

 1-6     by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

 1-7           (c)  An authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the

 1-8     principal municipality has a population of less than 750,000 may

 1-9     not use the proceeds of any bonds authorized under this section to

1-10     purchase, acquire, construct, operate, or maintain any form of

1-11     fixed rail transit vehicle or facility.

1-12           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 451, Transportation Code,

1-13     is amended by adding Section 451.071 to read as follows:

1-14           Sec. 451.071.  ELECTION REQUIRED FOR RAIL PLAN; CERTAIN

1-15     AUTHORITIES.  (a)  This section applies only to an authority

1-16     confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality

1-17     has a population of less than 750,000.

1-18           (b)  An authority may not expend any funds of the authority

1-19     to purchase, acquire, construct, operate, or maintain any form of a

1-20     fixed rail transit system unless the system is approved by a

1-21     majority of the votes cast at an election held by the authority for

1-22     that purpose.

1-23           (c)  The notice of an election called under Subsection (b)

1-24     must include a general description of the form of the transit

 2-1     system, including the general location of any proposed routes.

 2-2           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.