BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2660
80R7445 MTB-D By: King, Tracy (Eltife)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Chapter 91 (Rail Facilities), Transportation Code, grants the authority to create rural rail districts. The establishment of rural rail districts (who may own facilities and railways) was authorized under provisions of Chapter 623, Acts of the 67th Legislature, Regular Session, 1981 (Article 6550c, V.T.C.S.). However, no state funding has been provided to assist in the initial creation of such rural rail districts.
H.B. 2660 authorizes funding to provide, as start up money, for the creation of rural rail districts.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 489.102(b), Government Code, to authorize the Texas Economic Development Bank (bank) to provide grants or financing to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to implement TxDOT's powers and duties relating to rural rail development under Chapter 91 (Rail Facilities), Transportation Code.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 489.104, Government Code, to authorize the bank to allocate its resources as necessary to efficiently meet the level of demand experienced by TxDOT under Section 489.102(b)(7).
SECTION 3. Amends Section 91.071(b), Transportation Code, to provide an exception for money received from the bank fund under Section 489.102 (Powers and Duties of Bank), Government Code, from the provision prohibiting TxDOT from spending money from the general revenue fund to implement this chapter except pursuant to a line-item appropriation.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.