SRC-BWC H.B. 2522 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2522
By: Wilson (Armbrister)
State Affairs
5/10/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

With the closing of Robert Mueller Airport in Austin, an additional venue
for air travel in Central Texas has been eliminated.  H.B. 2522 requires
the Texas Department of Transportation to establish and maintain a state
airport in Central Texas.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 21B, Transportation Code, by adding Section
21.069, as follows: 

Sec. 21.069.  STATE AIRPORT IN CENTRAL TEXAS.  Requires the Texas
Department of Transportation (department) in consultation with the State
Aircraft Pooling Board to establish and maintain in Central Texas an
airport open to the general public.  Requires the site selection to be
conducted by the Aviation Division of the Texas Department of
Transportation (ADTDT).  Requires ADTDT, in determining the appropriate
location for a state airport in Central Texas, to consider certain factors.
Authorizes the department to acquire property by eminent domain that the
State Aircraft Pooling Board considers necessary to enable it to meet its
responsibilities under this section.  Provides that neither the department
nor the ADTDT is authorized to consider for the purposes of this section
any property in a municipality without the approval of the governing body
of the municipality.  Prohibits the department from considering for the
purposes of this section any property outside of municipalities without the
approval of the commissioners court of the county in which the property is
located.  Prohibits the department and ADTDT from considering for the
purposes of this section the property in Austin, Texas, identified as
Robert Mueller Airport.  Requires the department to utilize only federal
matching funds, federal grants, in-kind contributions, private sector
funds, nonprofit grants, and local government funding for the establishment
of this facility. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.