| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the permissible uses of the state highway fund. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 201.115(d), Transportation Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) Notwithstanding Section 222.001, money in the state |
|
|
highway fund may be used to repay a loan under this section, if |
|
|
permissible under the Texas Constitution and appropriated by the |
|
|
legislature for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 222.001, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 222.001. USE OF STATE HIGHWAY FUND. (a) Money that is |
|
|
required to be used for public roadways by the Texas Constitution or |
|
|
federal law and that is deposited in the state treasury to the |
|
|
credit of the state highway fund, including money deposited to the |
|
|
credit of the state highway fund under Title 23, United States Code, |
|
|
may be used only: |
|
|
(1) to improve the state highway system; or |
|
|
(2) to mitigate adverse environmental effects that |
|
|
result directly from construction or maintenance of a state highway |
|
|
by the department[; or
|
|
|
[(3) by the Department of Public Safety to police the
|
|
|
state highway system and to administer state laws relating to
|
|
|
traffic and safety on public roads]. |
|
|
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this code, money in the |
|
|
state highway fund that is not described by Subsection (a) may be |
|
|
used only to improve the state highway system. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 222.073, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 222.073. PURPOSES OF INFRASTRUCTURE BANK. To the |
|
|
extent permissible under [Notwithstanding] Section 222.001, the |
|
|
commission shall use money deposited in the bank to: |
|
|
(1) encourage public and private investment in |
|
|
transportation facilities both within and outside of the state |
|
|
highway system, including facilities that contribute to the |
|
|
multimodal and intermodal transportation capabilities of the |
|
|
state; and |
|
|
(2) develop financing techniques designed to: |
|
|
(A) expand the availability of funding for |
|
|
transportation projects and to reduce direct state costs; |
|
|
(B) maximize private and local participation in |
|
|
financing projects; and |
|
|
(C) improve the efficiency of the state |
|
|
transportation system. |
|
|
SECTION 4. Section 222.002, Transportation Code, is |
|
|
repealed. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
|
|
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect only if the constitutional |
|
|
amendment proposed by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, |
|
|
to limit the purposes for which revenues from motor vehicle |
|
|
registration fees, taxes on motor fuels and lubricants, and certain |
|
|
revenues received from the federal government may be used is |
|
|
approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the |
|
|
voters, this Act has no effect. |