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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duties of the Texas Department of Transportation |
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and other agencies with regard to state highways, toll roads, and |
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the Trans-Texas Corridor. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 223.201, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
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(h) The department shall make each comprehensive |
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development agreement, and any master development plan related to a |
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comprehensive development agreement, including financial plans, |
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available to the public in a timely manner. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 227, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 227.005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 227.005. DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. The |
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department shall make available to the public in a timely manner: |
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(1) each document, plan, and contract related to the |
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Trans-Texas Corridor; and |
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(2) all updates to the master development plan for |
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Trans-Texas Corridor 35, including financial plans. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 228.009, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 228.009. AUDIT BY PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 228, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 228.0091, 228.011, and 228.012 to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 228.0091. AUDIT BY STATE AUDITOR. The state auditor |
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shall perform an audit of each annual financial statement for a toll |
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road segment or combination of segments. |
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Sec. 228.011. REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY ATTORNEY GENERAL OF |
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CERTAIN AGREEMENTS. The department may not enter into a |
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comprehensive development agreement or other agreement to design, |
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build, operate, maintain, lease, or finance a segment of a toll road |
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until the agreement is reviewed and approved by the attorney |
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general if the agreement: |
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(1) has a term of more than four years; or |
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(2) provides for the expenditure of more than $250 |
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million by the state or another entity. |
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Sec. 228.012. TOLL REVENUE PROJECTIONS. (a) The |
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department may not enter into an agreement with a developer to |
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operate, lease, or finance a segment of a toll road until the |
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comptroller has projected the toll revenue for each geographic |
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region of the toll road segment. |
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(b) The comptroller shall, in a reasonable period: |
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(1) complete the projections performed under |
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Subsection (a); and |
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(2) provide copies of the projections to: |
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(A) the department; |
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(B) the Legislative Budget Board; |
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(C) the governor; and |
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(D) the state auditor. |
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SECTION 5. On the effective date of this Act: |
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(1) all powers, duties, functions, programs, and |
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activities of the Texas Department of Transportation related to |
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providing projections of toll revenue are transferred to the |
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comptroller of public accounts; and |
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(2) all funds provided to the Texas Department of |
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Transportation for purposes related to providing projections of |
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toll revenue are transferred to the comptroller of public accounts. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |