By: Murphy (Senate Sponsor - Williams) H.B. No. 2991

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2007; May 10, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security; May 18, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 18, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the control of access to highways within certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 251, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 251.0165 to read as follows:

Sec. 251.0165. CONTROL OF ACCESS WITHIN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) Except as limited by Section 203.032, a county with a population of 3.3 million or more or a county adjacent to a county with a population of 3.3 million or more, by resolution or order, may:

(1) deny access to or from a controlled access highway within the county and outside the limits of a municipality, including a state highway, from or to adjoining public or private real property and from or to a public or private way intersecting the highway, except at specific locations designated by the county; and

(2) designate locations on a controlled access highway within the county and outside the limits of a municipality, including a state highway, at which access to or from the highway is permitted and determine the type and extent of access permitted at each location.

(b) This section does not apply to the placement of or access to a utility facility in or near a highway right-of-way.

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, 2007.

* * * * *