SRC-JEC, MSY S.B. 716 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 716
By: Lindsay
Infrastructure Development and Security
6/26/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law allowing certain eligible counties to construct and maintain
toll roads are not clear as to whether such projects may include a toll
road project located entirely outside of the eligible county's borders.
S.B. 716 amends Chapter 284 of the Transportation Code to clearly allow
eligible counties to construct, operate, and maintain a toll road project
that is located exclusively in adjacent counties, provided that the action
has been approved by the adjacent county's commissioner's court.  In
addition, S.B. 716 adds counties bordering Mexico as counties to which
Chapter 284 applies. 

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 Subsection (a), Section 284.002, Transportation Code,
by adding Subdivision (4) to make this chapter apply to a county that
borders the United Mexican States. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 284.003, Transportation Code, by creating
Subdivisions (1)(A) and (1)(B) from existing text and adding Subdivision
(1)(C) to authorize a county or local government corporation to construct,
acquire, improve, operate, maintain, or pool a project located in one or
more counties adjacent to the county.  Authorizes a county or local
government corporation to construct a bridge over a deep water navigation
channel if the bridge does not hinder maritime transportation. Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 284.067, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e), as follows: 

(d)  Makes a conforming change.

(e)  Requires two-tenths of one percent of the toll revenue to be shared
equally between the permanent school fund and the General Land Office.
Requires the General Land Office to use its share for the acquisition of
real property in a natural state in the county of the project. Requires
the acquired land to be maintained in a natural state. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.