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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration and powers of a coordinated county |
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transportation authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 460.054(c), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The members described by Subsection (b)(3) shall be |
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designated as follows: |
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(1) each municipality with a population of more than |
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500 but less than 12,000 located in the county shall nominate one |
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person using a nomination form sent to the governing body of the |
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municipality by mail; |
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(2) the county judge shall add the names on the |
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nomination forms that are received before the 31st day after the |
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date of the mailing of the nomination forms; |
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(3) each municipality with a population of more than |
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500 but less than 12,000 located in the county is entitled to cast |
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one vote; |
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(4) only ballots returned to the county judge on or |
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before a predetermined date shall be counted; |
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(5) the county judge shall designate the three persons |
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with the highest plurality vote as members of the interim executive |
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committee; and |
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(6) if three members are not designated by this |
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process, the county judge shall name the balance of the members of |
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the interim executive committee described by Subsection (b)(3). |
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SECTION 2. Section 460.059(d), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) On adoption of the order confirming the authority, the |
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interim executive committee becomes the board of directors |
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[executive committee] of the authority. |
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SECTION 3. Section 460.104, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) An authority may acquire rolling stock or other real or |
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personal property under a contract or trust agreement, including a |
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conditional sales contract, a lease, a lease-purchase agreement, |
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and an equipment trust. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 460.106(a) and (b), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An authority may call an authorization election for a |
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tax levy associated with the service plan developed by the interim |
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executive committee or a tax rate that has been modified by action |
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of the authority [executive committee] at any time after the |
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confirmation election that creates the authority. |
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(b) The authority [executive committee] in ordering the |
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authorization election shall submit to the qualified voters in the |
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county located in an area participating in the authority the |
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following proposition: |
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"Shall the (name of authority) levy of a proposed tax, not to |
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exceed (rate), be authorized?" |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter C, Chapter 460, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 460.1061 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.1061. INCREASE OF TAX LEVY; ELECTION. (a) Except |
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as provided by Subsection (d), in an election to increase the tax |
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rate, the ballots shall be printed to provide for voting for or |
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against the following proposition: "Shall the tax rate imposed by |
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(name of authority created under this chapter) increase to |
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(percentage)?" |
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(b) An election to increase the tax rate shall be conducted |
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so that votes are separately tabulated and canvassed and that the |
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result is declared in each unit of election in the authority as |
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follows: |
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(1) in each municipality in the authority; and |
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(2) in the unincorporated area of each county in the |
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authority. |
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(c) In an election to increase the rate of the authority's |
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sales and use tax, if a majority of the votes received in each |
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municipality in the authority and in the unincorporated area of |
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each county in the authority favor the proposition, the authority |
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shall increase the tax rate. |
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(d) If the approval of the authority's proposed tax rate |
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increase would cause the tax in a municipality that has imposed a |
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dedicated or special-purpose municipal sales and use tax to exceed |
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the limit imposed under Section 460.551(c)(1), the governing body |
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of the municipality may request in writing that an authority call an |
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election imposing a tax increase with a combined ballot proposition |
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to lower or repeal any dedicated or special purpose municipal sales |
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tax. The election shall otherwise be conducted in accordance with |
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Section 321.409, Tax Code. |
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(e) In this section and in Section 460.302, "dedicated or |
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special purpose sales and use tax" means a tax referred to or |
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described by: |
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(1) Section 4A or 4B, Development Corporation Act of |
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1979 (Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); |
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(2) Section 379A.081, Local Government Code; |
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(3) Section 363.055, Local Government Code; or |
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(4) Section 327.003, Tax Code. |
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SECTION 6. The heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 460, |
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Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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[EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE] |
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SECTION 7. Section 460.201(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Each member of the board of directors [executive
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committee] serves a term of two years. |
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SECTION 8. Section 460.202, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.202. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for appointment |
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to the board of directors [executive committee], a person must have |
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professional experience in the field of transportation, business, |
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government, engineering, or law. |
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SECTION 9. Section 460.203, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.203. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Members of the board |
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of directors [executive committee] and officers and employees of |
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the authority are subject to Chapter 171, Local Government Code. |
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SECTION 10. Sections 460.204(a) and (c), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board of directors [executive committee] shall meet |
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at least monthly to transact the business of an authority. |
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(c) The board of directors [executive committee] by |
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resolution shall: |
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(1) set the time, place, and date of regular meetings; |
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and |
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(2) adopt rules and bylaws as necessary to conduct |
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meetings. |
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SECTION 11. Section 460.205, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.205. QUORUM; VOTING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Five |
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members constitute a quorum of the board of directors [executive
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committee]. |
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(b) An action of the board of directors [executive
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committee] requires a vote of a majority of the members present |
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unless the bylaws require a larger number for a specific action. |
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SECTION 12. Section 460.302, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.302. ADDITION OF MUNICIPALITY BY ELECTION. (a) |
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The territory of a municipality that is not initially part of an |
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authority may be added to an authority if: |
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(1) any part of the municipality is located in the |
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territory of the authority; |
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(2) the governing body of the municipality requests in |
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writing that the authority call [orders] an election under this |
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section on whether the territory of the municipality should be |
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added to the authority, the authority calls the election, and |
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submits to the qualified voters of the municipality the following |
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proposition: "Shall the (name of the authority) levy of a proposed |
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tax, not to exceed (rate), be authorized?"; and |
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(3) a majority of the votes received in the election |
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favor the measure. |
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(b) The governing body of the authority [municipality] |
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shall canvas the returns, declare the result, and notify the |
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comptroller and the department [certify to the executive committee
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the result of an election in which the addition is approved]. |
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(c) If approval by a municipality on being added to an |
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authority would cause the tax in a municipality that has imposed a |
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dedicated or special-purpose municipal sales and use tax to exceed |
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the limit imposed under Section 460.551(c)(1), the governing body |
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of the municipality may request in writing that an authority call an |
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election under this section on whether the territory of the |
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municipality should be added with a combined ballot proposition to |
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lower or repeal any dedicated or special purpose municipal sales |
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tax. The election shall otherwise be conducted in accordance with |
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Section 321.409, Tax Code. |
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(d) At any time after the date of an election approving the |
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addition of a municipality under this section, the executive |
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committee and the governing body of the municipality may enter into |
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an interlocal agreement that provides for the eventual admission of |
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the municipality to the territory of the authority and for the |
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payment of capital recovery fees as determined by the executive |
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committee. The authority is not required to provide transportation |
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services to the municipality until any capital recovery fees |
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provided for in the agreement are paid to the authority. |
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(e) A sales and use tax imposed by an authority takes effect |
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in a municipality added to the authority under this section on the |
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first day after the expiration of the first complete calendar |
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quarter that begins after the date the comptroller receives a |
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certified copy of an order adopted by the executive committee |
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relating to the addition of the municipality or other notice of the |
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addition of the municipality, accompanied by a map of the authority |
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clearly showing the territory added. |
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SECTION 13. Section 460.304(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Section 460.302(d), a [A] sales |
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and use tax imposed by an authority takes effect in territory added |
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to the authority under this subchapter on the first day of the first |
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calendar quarter that begins after the addition of the territory. |
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SECTION 14. Section 460.401, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.401. MANAGEMENT OF AUTHORITY. The board of |
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directors [executive committee] is responsible for the management, |
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operation, and control of the authority and its properties. |
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SECTION 15. Sections 460.402(a) and (c), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The [executive committee of an] authority shall have an |
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annual audit of the affairs of the authority prepared by an |
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independent certified public accountant. |
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(c) On receipt of the audit prescribed by Subsection (a), |
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the board of directors [executive committee] shall address on the |
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record any deficiencies noted in the report at a regular meeting of |
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the executive committee. |
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SECTION 16. Section 460.403, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.403. BUDGET. The board of directors [executive
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committee] shall prepare an annual budget. |
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SECTION 17. Section 460.406, Transportation Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (c) and by adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The board of directors [executive committee] may |
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authorize the negotiation of a contract without competitive sealed |
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bids or proposals if: |
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(1) the aggregate amount involved in the contract is |
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$25,000 or less; |
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(2) the contract is for construction for which not |
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more than one bid or proposal is received; |
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(3) the contract is for services or property for which |
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there is only one source or for which it is otherwise impracticable |
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to obtain competition; |
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(4) the contract is to respond to an emergency for |
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which the public exigency does not permit the delay incident to the |
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competitive process; |
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(5) the contract is for personal or professional |
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services or services for which competitive bidding is precluded by |
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law; [or] |
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(6) the contract, without regard to form and which may |
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include bonds, notes, loan agreements, or other obligations, is for |
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the purpose of borrowing money or is a part of a transaction |
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relating to the borrowing of money, including: |
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(A) a credit support agreement, such as a line or |
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letter of credit or other debt guaranty; |
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(B) a bond, note, debt sale or purchase, trustee, |
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paying agent, remarketing agent, indexing agent, or similar |
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agreement; |
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(C) an agreement with a securities dealer, |
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broker, or underwriter; and |
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(D) any other contract or agreement considered by |
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the board of directors [executive committee] to be appropriate or |
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necessary in support of the authority's financing activities; |
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(7) the contract is for work that is performed and paid |
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for by the day as the work progresses; |
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(8) the contract is for the purchase of land or a |
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right-of-way; |
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(9) the contract is for the purchase of personal |
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property sold: |
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(A) at an auction by a state licensed auctioneer; |
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(B) at a going out of business sale held in |
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compliance with Subchapter F, Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code; |
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or |
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(C) by a political subdivision of this state, a |
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state agency, or an entity of the federal government; |
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(10) the contract is for services performed by blind |
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or severely disabled persons; |
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(11) the contract is for the purchase of electricity; |
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or |
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(12) the contract is one awarded for alternate project |
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delivery under Sections 271.117-271.119, Local Government Code. |
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(d) For the purposes of entering into a contract authorized |
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by Subsection (c)(12), an authority is considered a "governmental |
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entity" as defined by Section 271.111, Local Government Code. |
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SECTION 18. Section 460.504, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.504. SALE. An authority's bonds may be sold at a |
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public or private sale as determined by the board of directors |
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[executive committee] to be the more financially beneficial. |
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SECTION 19. Section 460.508(c), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The Texas [Natural Resource Conservation] Commission on |
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Environmental Quality is not required to approve notes issued under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 20. Sections 460.551(a), (b), (c), and (d), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board of directors [executive committee] may impose |
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for an authority a sales and use tax at the rate of: |
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(1) one-quarter of one percent; |
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(2) three-eighths of one percent; |
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(3) one-half of one percent; |
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(4) five-eighths of one percent; |
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(5) three-quarters of one percent; |
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(6) seven-eighths of one percent; or |
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(7) one percent. |
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(b) The imposition of an authority's sales and use tax must |
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be approved at an election conducted in the manner provided by |
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Section 460.1061 or 460.302 and may not be imposed in an area that |
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has not confirmed the authority. |
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(c) A sales and use tax may be imposed, as prescribed by this |
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section, by a municipality that participates in a transportation or |
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transit authority other than an authority created under this |
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chapter if: |
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(1) the combined rates of all sales and use taxes |
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imposed in the municipality does not exceed two percent; and |
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(2) the ballot of the authorization vote for the sales |
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and use tax reads: |
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"(Name of city) already imposes a sales and use tax for |
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participation in the (name of transportation or transit authority) |
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[transportation authority]. The proposed sales and use tax is |
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solely for the benefit of, and will be dedicated to, the (name of |
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authority created under this chapter) [county transportation
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authority]." |
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(d) The authority shall impose a sales and use tax at a |
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minimum uniform rate as determined by the board of directors |
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[executive committee] if the tax is approved at an election in an |
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area that has confirmed the authority. |
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SECTION 21. Section 460.554, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 460.554. RATE DECREASE. The board of directors |
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[executive committee] by order may direct the comptroller of public |
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accounts to collect the authority's sales and use tax at a rate that |
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is lower than the rate approved by the voters at the confirmation |
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hearing if the board of directors [executive committee] determines |
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that it is in the best interest of the authority. |
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SECTION 22. Section 321.409(d), Tax Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) This section does not apply to sales tax elections |
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called by any method other than by the governing body, except as |
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provided by Section 460.1061, Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 23. Section 460.201(b), Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 24. (a) An election called and conducted |
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authorizing the levy of a sales and use tax, where a majority of |
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votes received favored the authorization of a sales and use tax levy |
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by or for the benefit of an authority created under Chapter 460, |
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Transportation Code, that occurred before the effective date of |
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this Act, is validated. Any acts or proceedings of an authority are |
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validated as of the dates they occurred. |
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(b) This Act does not validate any governmental act or |
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proceeding that, under the law of this state at the time the act or |
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proceeding occurred, was a misdemeanor or a felony. |
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SECTION 25. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |