Amend CSSB 342 in SECTION 2 by striking proposed Section
361.003, Transportation Code (page 3, lines 12-27) and substituting
the following:
      "Sec. 361.003.  REGIONAL TOLL AUTHORITY. (a)  The commission
may by order authorize the creation of a regional toll authority
for the purposes of constructing, maintaining, or operating a
turnpike project in a region of the state.
      (b)  The governing body of a regional toll authority shall
consist of representatives of political subdivisions in the county
or counties in which a project will be located, as determined by
commission order.  The governor shall appoint one member of the
governing body who shall serve as the presiding officer.
      (c)  A regional toll authority shall have the powers, duties,
and responsibilities of the department under this chapter, except
for those powers, duties, and responsibilities provided by Section
361.031(d) and Sections 361.032-361.037, and subject to any
restrictions and regulations of the commission.
      (d)  A regional toll authority may not construct, maintain,
or operate a turnpike  project in a county that, on November 6,
2001:
            (1)  was part of a regional tollway authority; or
            (2)  operated a project under Chapter 284.
      (e)  A regional toll authority:
            (1)  is a political subdivision of this state for
purposes of Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
            (2)  is subject to Chapter 552, Government Code;
            (3)  is a state governmental body for purposes of the
Open Meetings Act,  Chapter 551, Government Code;
            (4)  has the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a
county under Subchapter C, Chapter 262, Local Government Code,
except for Section 262.029 of that subchapter, and except for
contracts subject to Section 361.231; and
            (5)  is a local government for purposes of Subchapters
D and F, Chapter 271, Local Government Code.
      (f)  The commission may grant or loan funds for the
construction, maintenance, or operation of a turnpike project under
this section, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or
other law.
      (g)  The commission shall adopt rules to implement this
section."
      (h)  Each year, if a regional toll authority determines that
it has surplus revenue from turnpike projects, it shall reduce
tolls, expend the revenue on other transportation projects in the
region, or deposit the revenue in the Texas Mobility Fund.  The
commission shall by rule define the term "transportation project."
For purposes of this subsection, "surplus revenue" means toll
revenue that exceeds the regional toll authority's debt service
requirements, coverage requirements of any bond indenture, and cots
necessary to operate and maintain turnpike projects of the regional
toll authority. To the extent this subsection conflicts with
Section 361.189, this subsection prevails.