C.S.H.B. 3413 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 3413
By: Krusee
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 3413 78(R)    To provide an exception to the statutory limitation on
the amount of money that may be granted by the department for the cost of
a toll facility if the facility is one from which the department receives
all of the toll revenue.   

Section 222.103, Transportation Code authorizes the department to
participate, by spending money from any available source, in the cost of
the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or operation of a toll
facility of a public or private entity on terms and conditions established
by the Texas Transportation Commission. 

Section 222.103(h) provides that money granted by the department each
federal fiscal year under Section 222.103 may not exceed 30 percent of the
obligation authority under the federal-aid highway program that is
distributed to this state in that year. 

The state greatly needs to increase its transportation expenditures to
meet rising highway demand and maintenance needs.  This legislation would
allow the department to finance needed toll facilities of the department
even if doing so would cause the department to exceed the statutory cap on
toll equity. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

CSHB 3413 amends Section 222.103(h), Transportation Code to provide that
the limitation established in that subsection does not apply to money
expended on a toll facility from which the department receives all of the
toll revenue.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute differs from the original in that the substitute is a
Legislative Council draft.