SRC-SEW S.B. 1517 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1517
77R6662 MTB-DBy: Lucio
State Affairs
4/5/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, although at least one-third of state departments of
transportation (DOT) nationwide survey their customers, the results have
not been tied to those departments' overall management systems.  The Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has conducted a survey in one
district, but does not regularly gather information from landowners and
displacees that might help improve its right-of-way acquisition process.
Improving the relationship with landowners and displacees may reduce the
time needed to acquire right-of-way by reducing the number of negotiations
that must be settled in court.  As proposed, S.B. 1517 requires TxDOT to
assess the performance of its acquisition agents and to resolve complaints
by surveying landowners from which TxDOT acquires property for
right-of-way. This bill also requires TxDOT to evaluate the survey and
other information to determine whether an employee of a private entity can
perform the functions of an acquisition agent better and at a lower cost
than a TxDOT employee and report its findings to the legislature before
January 1, 2003.   

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 224A, Transportation Code, by adding Section
224.009, as follows: 

Sec. 224.009.  RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION SURVEY.  Defines "acquisition
agent." Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to
submit a survey to certain property owners for certain purposes.
Authorizes the department to contract for the collection and analysis of
completed surveys.  Requires the department to use the analysis for certain
purposes. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the department to evaluate the results of the survey
under Section 224.009, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, and
consider other relevant information for certain purposes.  Requires the
department, before January 1, 2003, to report its findings to the
legislature. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.