By Wilson                                             H.B. No. 2522
         77R8085 MTB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring the Texas Department of Transportation to
 1-3     establish and maintain a state airport in Central Texas.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Transportation Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 21.069 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 21.069.  STATE AIRPORT IN CENTRAL TEXAS.  (a)  The
 1-8     department, in consultation with the State Aircraft Pooling Board,
 1-9     shall establish and maintain in Central Texas an airport open to
1-10     the general public for the use of licensed aircraft.
1-11           (b)  In determining the appropriate location for a state
1-12     airport in Central Texas, the department shall consider:
1-13                 (1)  the convenience, comfort, and accommodation of air
1-14     traffic flying into and departing from the Central Texas region,
1-15     including persons traveling for business and commerce reasons,
1-16     government officials, and tourists;
1-17                 (2)  property in Central Texas owned by the most
1-18     populous city in the region;
1-19                 (3)  in the interest of cost efficiency, property with
1-20     existing airport facilities; and
1-21                 (4)  the safe operation of aircraft flying into and
1-22     departing from the Central Texas region.
1-23           (c)  The department may acquire property by eminent domain
1-24     that the department considers necessary to enable it to meet its
 2-1     responsibilities under this section.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-3     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-4     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-5     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-6     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.