78R853 JTS-D

By:  Krusee                                                       H.B. No. 159



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation 
or a regional mobility authority to purchase or condemn real 
property for the Trans-Texas Corridor.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter N to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER N. TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR
	Sec. 201.961.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "Trans-Texas 
Corridor" means the multiuse, statewide transportation corridor  
described by the department's implementation plan adopted by the 
commission on June 27, 2002.
	Sec. 201.962.  ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.  (a)  Subject to 
the availability of funds appropriated by the legislature, the 
department may purchase or condemn real property necessary or 
convenient for the Trans-Texas Corridor, including purchasing or 
condemning real property for highway, railway, or utility purposes.
	(b)  Subject to the availability of sufficient funds, a 
regional mobility authority has the same powers as the department 
under Subsection (a).
	(c)  The authority to purchase or condemn real property under 
this section includes the authority to acquire a right-of-way that 
may be leased by the department or an authority to a private entity 
for profit.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.