Amend CSHB 3588 by adding the following appropriately
numbered article and sections and renumbering subsequent articles
accordingly:
ARTICLE _____. STATEWIDE COORDINATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
SECTION _____. 01. Subtitle K, Title 6, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Chapter 461 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 461. STATEWIDE COORDINATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Sec. 461.001. LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND CONSTRUCTION. (a)
Public transportation services are provided in this state by many
different entities, both public and private. The multiplicity of
public transportation providers and services, coupled with a lack
of coordination between state oversight agencies, has generated
inefficiencies, overlaps in service, and confusion for consumers.
It is the intent of this chapter:
(1) to eliminate waste in the provision of public
transportation services;
(2) to generate efficiencies that will permit increased
levels of service; and
(3) to further the state's efforts to reduce air
pollution.
(b) This chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve its
purposes.
Sec. 461.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Public transportation provider" means any entity
that provides public transportation services if it is a
governmental entity or if it receives financial assistance from a
governmental entity, whether state, local, or federal. The term
does not include private carriers that do not receive financial
assistance from a governmental entity. It also does not include a
person who provides intercity rail or bus service, commercial air
transportation, water transportation, or nonstop service to or from
a point located outside this state. If a person provides both
public transportation services and services that are not public
transportation services, that person is included within the term
only with regard to the provision of public transportation services
and to the extent of those public transportation services.
(2) "Public transportation services" means any
conveyance of passengers and their hand-carried baggage by a
governmental entity or by a private entity if the private entity
receives financial assistance for that conveyance from any
governmental entity. It does not include intercity rail or bus
service, commercial air transportation, water transportation, or
nonstop service to or from a point located outside this state.
Sec. 461.003. RULES OF TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. (a)
The commission by rule may:
(1) require a state agency that is responsible for
ensuring the provision of public transportation services to
contract with the department for the department to assume the
responsibilities of that agency relating to the provision of public
transportation services; and
(2) require a public transportation provider to provide
detailed information on its provision of public transportation
services, including revenues, routes, maps, categories of
passengers served, number of passengers served, and equipment use
and condition.
(b) Except with regard to health and human services programs
funded by this state, the commission may not direct the planning or
operations of an authority created or operating under Chapter 451,
452, or 453.
(c) The commission shall adopt other rules, including rules
defining terms, necessary to implement this chapter.
Sec. 461.004. DUTIES OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
(a) The department shall identify:
(1) overlaps and gaps in the provision of public
transportation services, including services that could be more
effectively provided by existing, privately funded transportation
resources;
(2) underused equipment owned by public transportation
providers; and
(3) inefficiencies in the provision of public
transportation services by any public transportation provider.
(b) The department may contract with any public or private
transportation provider for the department to arrange for the
provision of public transportation services.
Sec. 461.005. ELIMINATION OF OVERLAPPING SERVICE. (a) To
eliminate waste and maximize efficiency, the department shall
encourage public transportation providers to agree on the
allocation of specific services and service areas among the
providers. The department may incorporate these discussions in
planning processes such as the development of the statewide
transportation improvement program or a local transportation
improvement plan.
(b) If public transportation providers do not reach an
agreement on a service plan under Subsection (a), the department
may develop an interim service plan for that area.
(c) The department may require that all or a percentage of the
vehicles used to provide public transportation services comply with
specified emissions standards. The standards may vary among
geographic areas based on the need of each area to reduce levels of
air pollution. This subsection does not apply to an authority
created under Chapter 451, 452, or 453, Transportation Code.
Sec. 461.006. DUTIES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS.
Each public transportation provider shall cooperate with the
department in eliminating waste and ensuring efficiency and maximum
coverage in the provision of public transportation services.
Sec. 461.007. INCENTIVES FOR EFFICIENCY. (a) Notwithstanding
any other law, including a law establishing a formula for the
allocation of public transportation grants, the commission may
increase or reduce the amount of a grant made to a public
transportation provider based on whether the public transportation
provider is complying fully with this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission may
consider whether a public transportation provider in a geographic
area of this state is complying fully with this chapter in executing
the commission's other responsibilities relating to that area.
SECTION _____.02. Section 455.0015, Transportation Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and
(d) to read as follows:
(b) It is the intent of the legislature that, whenever
possible, and to the maximum extent feasible, the existing network
of transportation providers, and in particular the fixed route
components of the existing networks, be used to meet the client
transportation requirements of the state's social service agencies
and their agents. The legislature recognizes the contributions of
nonprofit entities dedicated to providing social services and
related activities and encourages the continued community
involvement of those entities in this area. The legislature
likewise recognizes the potential cost savings and other benefits
for utilizing existing private sector transportation resources.
The department will contract with and promote the use of private
sector transportation resources to the maximum extent feasible
consistent with goals of this subsection.
(c) Each health and human services agency of this state shall
contract with the department for the department to assume all
responsibilities of the health and human services agency relating
to the provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
(d) The department may contract with any public or private
transportation provider or with any regional transportation broker
for the provision of public transportation services.
SECTION ______.03. Section 455.004, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 455.004. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)
A public transportation advisory committee consisting of nine
members shall:
(1) advise the committee on the needs and problems of
the state's public transportation providers, including the methods
for allocating state public transportation money;
(2) comment on rules involving public transportation
during development of the rules and before the commission finally
adopts the rules unless an emergency requires immediate commission
action; [and]
(3) advise the commission on the implementation of
Chapter 461; and
(4) perform any other duty determined by the
commission.
(b) The commission shall appoint members of the advisory
committee. The membership of the committee shall [governor, the
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives each shall appoint three members of the committee.
The appointing officers shall allocate among themselves the
authority for appointment of members with different types of
qualifications. The committee must] include:
(1) four members who [one member to] represent a diverse
cross-section of public transportation providers [in rural areas];
(2) three members who [one member to] represent a
diverse cross-section of transportation users [municipal transit
systems in urban areas with population of less than 200,000]; and
(3) two members who [one member to represent
metropolitan transit authorities in urban areas with populations of
200,000 or more;
[(4) one member to represent transportation providers
for persons with disabilities and the elderly; and
[(5) five members who have a knowledge of and interest
in public transportation to] represent the general public.
(c) A member serves at the pleasure of the commission
[officer appointing the member]. A member is not entitled to
compensation for service on the committee but is entitled to
reimbursement for reasonable expenses the member incurs in
performing committee duties.
(d) The public transportation advisory committee shall meet
[quarterly or] as requested by the commission.
(e) The commission may adopt rules to govern the operation of
the advisory committee.
SECTION _____.04. Section 461.012, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) The commission shall contract with the Texas Department
of Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to
assume all responsibilities of the commission relating to the
provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
SECTION_____.05. Section 533.012, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 533.012. COOPERATION OF STATE AGENCIES. (a) At the
department's request, all state departments, agencies, officers,
and employees shall cooperate with the department in activities
that are consistent with their functions.
(b) The department shall contract with the Texas Department
of Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to
assume all responsibilities of the department relating to the
provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
SECTION _____.06. Section 22.001, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) The department shall contract with the Texas Department
of Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to
assume all responsibilities of the department relating to the
provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
SECTION _____.07. Section 40.002, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) The department may contract with the Texas Department of
Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to assume
all responsibilities of the department relating to the provision of
transportation services for clients of eligible programs.
SECTION _____.08. Section 91.021, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) The commission shall contract with the Texas Department
of Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to
assume all responsibilities of the commission relating to the
provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
SECTION _____.09. Section 101.0256, Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 101.0256. COORDINATED ACCESS TO LOCAL SERVICES. (a) The
department and the Texas Department of Human Services shall develop
standardized assessment procedures to share information on common
clients served in a similar service region.
(b) The department shall contract with the Texas Department
of Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to
assume all responsibilities of the department relating to the
provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
SECTION _____.10. Section 111.0525, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) The commission shall contract with the Texas Department
of Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to
assume all responsibilities of the commission relating to the
provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
SECTION _____.11. Section 301.063, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) The commission shall contract with the Texas Department
of Transportation for the Texas Department of Transportation to
assume all responsibilities of the commission relating to the
provision of transportation services for clients of eligible
programs.
SECTION_____.12. LEGISLATIVE INTENT REGARDING PROVISION OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE TRANSPORTATION THROUGH THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. It is the intent of the legislature
that the provision of health and human service transportation
through the Texas Department of Transportation will improve the
delivery of transportation services to clients and enhance their
access to transportation services. Furthermore, it is the intent
of the legislature that these services be provided in a manner that
will generate efficiencies in operation, control costs, and permit
increased levels of service. The Texas Department of
Transportation shall encourage cooperation and coordination among
transportation providers, regional transportation brokers, and
actual and potential clients in an effort to achieve the stated
legislative goals.
SECTION _____.13. Any funds that are used by the Texas
Department of Transportation to implement the transportation
services provided in Sections _____.02, _____.04, _____.05,
_____.06, _____.07, _____.08, _____.09, _____.10, and _____.11
shall be accounted for and budgeted separately from other funds
appropriated to the Texas Department of Transportation for any
other public transportation program or budget strategy.