1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to authorizing a single county to create a rural rail

 1-3     transportation district.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 623, Acts of the 67th Legislature,

 1-6     Regular Session, 1981 (Article 6550c, Vernon's Texas  Civil

 1-7     Statutes), is amended by adding Section 3A to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 3A.  CREATION OR DISSOLUTION OF DISTRICT LOCATED WHOLLY

 1-9     IN ONE COUNTY.  (a)  In addition to eligible counties, the

1-10     commissioners court of a county that meets the requirements of

1-11     Section 3(b) of this Act by order may create a rural rail

1-12     transportation district for purposes of developing, financing,

1-13     maintaining, and operating a new rail system under this Act and for

1-14     other purposes of this Act.

1-15           (b)  The boundaries of a district created under this section

1-16     are the boundaries of the county in which the district is created.

1-17           (c)  At the time the district is created, the commissioners

1-18     court shall:

1-19                 (1)  designate the name of the district; and

1-20                 (2)  appoint at least four residents of the county to

1-21     serve as directors of the district.

1-22           (d)  A member of the board of directors serves for a two-year

1-23     term. An initial director serves for a term ending on the second

1-24     anniversary of the date on which the order creating the district

 2-1     was adopted.

 2-2           (e)  Section 4 of this Act applies to a board member

 2-3     appointed under this section.

 2-4           (f)  The commissioners court of the county by order may

 2-5     provide for the dissolution of the district if:

 2-6                 (1)  the commissioners court determines that the

 2-7     dissolution will not impair an obligation of any contract of the

 2-8     district; and

 2-9                 (2)  the dissolution order will become effective only

2-10     on the creation of another district under this Act that includes

2-11     the county and meets the requirements of Sections 3(a) and (b) of

2-12     this Act.

2-13           SECTION 2.  The heading for Section 3, Chapter 623, Acts of

2-14     the 67th Legislature, Regular Session, 1981 (Article 6550c,

2-15     Vernon's Texas  Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:

2-16           Sec. 3.  CREATION, RE-CREATION, OR DISSOLUTION OF DISTRICT

2-17     LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY.

2-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-23     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-24     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2462 was passed by the House on May

         10, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not

         voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2462 was passed by the Senate on May

         26, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor