1-1 By: Solis (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 2616
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2001;
1-3 April 30, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on State
1-4 Affairs; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to a prohibition against converting the Queen Isabella
1-9 Causeway to a turnpike project.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 362.0041, Transportation Code, is amended
1-12 by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
1-13 follows:
1-14 (a) Except as provided in Subsection (d), if [If] the
1-15 commission finds that the conversion of a segment of the free state
1-16 highway system to a toll facility is the most feasible and economic
1-17 means to accomplish necessary expansion improvements, or extensions
1-18 to the state highway system, that segment may be converted by order
1-19 of the commission to a turnpike project under Chapter 361.
1-20 (d) The commission may not convert the Queen Isabella
1-21 Causeway in Cameron County to a turnpike project.
1-22 SECTION 2. Section 366.035, Transportation Code, is amended
1-23 by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
1-24 follows:
1-25 (a) Except as provided under Subsection (g), if [If] the
1-26 commission determines that the most feasible and economic means to
1-27 accomplish necessary expansion, improvements, or extensions to the
1-28 state highway system is the conversion to a turnpike project of a
1-29 segment of the free state highway system, any segment located in a
1-30 county of an authority or a county in which an authority operates a
1-31 turnpike project or in any county adjacent to those counties may,
1-32 on approval of the governor and the affected authority, be
1-33 transferred by order of the commission to that authority. An
1-34 authority that receives the segment of highway may own, operate,
1-35 and maintain the segment as a turnpike project or system or a part
1-36 of a turnpike project or system under this chapter.
1-37 (g) The commission may not transfer the Queen Isabella
1-38 Causeway in Cameron County to an authority under this section.
1-39 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-40 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-41 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1-42 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-43 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-44 * * * * *