By:  Wolens                                                       H.B. No. 2953



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation and powers of a north Texas regional 
mobility authority.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 361, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 361.0035 to read as follows:
	Sec. 361.0035.  NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY.  
(a)  The commission by order may authorize the creation of a 
regional mobility authority that includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, 
Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant counties.
	(b)  The governing body of the regional mobility authority is 
a board of directors.  The commissioners court of each county in the 
authority shall appoint one director.  If the most populous 
municipality in a county listed in Subsection (a) has a population 
of more than 500,000, the mayor of that municipality shall appoint 
one director.  The governor shall appoint one director who shall 
serve as the presiding officer of the board.  If the number of 
appointed directors is an even number, the appointed directors 
shall elect one additional director, who must reside in a county in 
the territory of the authority.
	(c)  A regional mobility authority created under this 
section has all the powers of a regional mobility authority created 
under Section 361.003 or another law of this state.
	(d)  For a segment of a highway of the free state highway 
system that leads into and out of the territory of the regional 
mobility authority, the board of directors of the authority has the 
same powers as the department under Section 222.102 or the 
commission under 362.0041, but only if the board enters into an 
agreement with the commission under which the regional mobility 
authority:
		(1)  assumes the duty to maintain or rehabilitate the 
segment of the highway as required by Section 222.102; or
		(2)  assumes each duty assigned to the commission by 
Section 362.0041.
	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.