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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to use of a portion of the money in the Texas Mobility Fund |
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for mass transit projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 201.948 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.948. MASS TRANSIT GRANTS. (a) In this section, |
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"mass transit" means the transportation of passengers and |
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hand-carried packages or baggage of a passenger by bus, light rail, |
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or commuter rail. |
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(b) The comptroller shall use the money dedicated to mass |
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transit projects and operations by Section 49-k(c-1), Article III, |
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Texas Constitution, to make grants to municipalities to finance |
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mass transit projects that the comptroller determines will best |
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expand and improve mass transit services available to residents of |
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the state. A municipality receiving a grant may use the money |
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directly or deliver the money to another governmental entity, |
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including a transit authority, that provides mass transit services |
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within the municipal boundaries of the municipality, regardless of |
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whether the projects of the other entity are within those |
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boundaries. Money from a grant may be used only to finance capital |
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costs of a project, including debt service for debt financing of |
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capital costs, and may not be used: |
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(1) to pay operating costs; or |
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(2) to finance a project of a regional mobility |
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authority. |
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(c) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a |
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municipality must: |
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(1) apply to the comptroller on a form prescribed by |
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the comptroller; |
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(2) commit to dedicate an amount of its own money equal |
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to the amount of grant sought to fund the project for which the |
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grant is sought; and |
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(3) provide the comptroller any information the |
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comptroller requests to determine whether the grant should be made. |
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(d) The comptroller may adopt rules to administer this |
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section. Notwithstanding Section 201.942, the comptroller shall |
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administer the grant program created by this section, including |
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determination of grant recipients, the amount and the manner of |
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delivery of a grant, conditions on use of the grant, and other |
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matters necessary to the operation of the grant program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the date on which the |
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constitutional amendment proposed by the 80th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2007, providing for use of a portion of the money in the |
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Texas Mobility Fund for mass transit projects takes effect. If that |
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amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. |