Amend SB 1131 (house committee report) by adding the
following SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS
as appropriate:
SECTION __. Subchapter B, Chapter 370, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 370.0311 to read as follows:
Sec. 370.0311. CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES. (a) This section
applies to a municipality:
(1) with a population of 5,000 or less; and
(2) in which a ferry system that is a part of the state
highway system is located.
(b) A municipality has the same authority as a county under
this chapter to create and participate in an authority.
(c) A municipality that creates or participates in an
authority has the same powers and duties as a county that creates or
participates in an authority under this chapter.
(d) The governing body of a municipality that creates or
participates in an authority has the same powers and duties as a
commissioners court of a county that creates or participates in an
authority under this chapter.
(e) An elected member of the governing body of a municipality
that creates or participates in an authority has the same powers and
duties as a commissioner of a county that creates or participates in
an authority under this chapter.
SECTION __. Section 370.037(h), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(h) An authority may permanently [temporarily] charge a toll
for use of a ferry transferred under this section [to pay the costs
necessary for an expansion of the ferry. An authority may
permanently charge a toll for use of ferry facilities that are an
expansion of the ferry transferred under this section]. An
authority may permanently charge a fee or toll for priority use of
ferry facilities under Section 370.193.
SECTION __. Subchapter E, Chapter 370, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 370.193 to read as follows:
Sec. 370.193. PRIORITY BOARDING OF FERRY. An authority may
establish a system under which an owner of a motor vehicle may pay
an additional fee or toll that entitles the vehicle to have priority
in boarding a ferry operated by the authority.