SRC- DPW C.S.S.B. 537 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 537 By: Cain State Affairs 3/3/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, Texas law authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission to enter into agreements with counties, municipalities, and transportation corporations for improvements of the state highway system, and grants the Texas Department of Transportation the authority to enter into agreements with regional tollway authorities to provide certain services with no obligation. This bill would authorize the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with a regional tollway authority, and authorizes a regional tollway authority or the Texas Turnpike Authority to set prima facie speed limits for vehicles on a turnpike. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 537 authorizes agreements by and to the authority of regional tollway authorities. 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 Chapter 201C, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.113, as follows: Sec. 201.113. AGREEMENTS WITH REGIONAL TOLLWAY AUTHORITIES. Authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission and a regional tollway authority (authority) to enter into an agreement for the improvement by a regional tollway authority of portions of the state highway system. Defines "improvement." SECTION 2. Chapter 201I, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.707, as follows: Sec. 201.707. AGREEMENTS FOR SERVICES ON REGIONAL TOLLWAY AUTHORITY PROJECTS. Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (department) and a regional tollway authority to enter into an agreement for the provision by the department of services on turnpike projects, including but not limited to courtesy patrols, for fair and reasonable compensation. SECTION 3. Amends the section heading and Subsection (a), Section 545.354, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 545.354. New heading: AUTHORITY OF TEXAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITY AND REGIONAL TOLLWAY AUTHORITIES TO ALTER SPEED LIMITS ON TURNPIKE PROJECTS. Defines "authority." Authorizes an authority, rather than the Texas Turnpike Authority, to determine prima facie speed limits for vehicles on a turnpike. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Relating Clause. Amends the relating clause by deleting a provision regarding the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation's authorization to enter into agreements with a regional tollway authority. Deletes a provision regarding authority to set prima facie speed limits. SECTION 2. Amends Section 201.707, Transportation Code, to revise language regarding the Texas Department of Transportation's provision of certain services.