Amend CSSB 855, in SECTION 1 of the bill, in Chapter 446, Local Government Code, by adding Subchapter H as follows:SUBCHAPTER H. COASTAL BEND REGION Sec. 446.351. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies only to a county that has a population of more than 300,000 and in which the principal municipality: (1) has a population of more than 250,000; and (2) is located wholly or partly on a barrier island which borders the Gulf of Mexico. Sec. 446.352. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Mobility improvement project" includes: (A) sidewalks; and (B) paths, lanes, ways, and trails for bicycling or hiking and facilities related to such paths, lanes, ways, and trails. (2) "Transit authority" or "transportation authority" includes a county described by Section 446.351 and the county's principal municipality. (3) "Principal municipality" means the municipality with the largest population in a county. Sec. 446.353. CALLING OF ELECTION. (a) The commissioners court of a county to which this subchapter applies by order may call an election on the issue of imposing one or more methods of local option funding authorized by this chapter to: (1) acquire, construct, develop, own, operate, and maintain mobility improvement projects; (2) fund operations, maintenance, capital, and debt service expenses for mobility improvement projects; or (3) contract with a transportation authority or transportation provider for a purpose described by Subdivision (1) or (2). (b) A county commissioners court and the principal municipality of the county may, by orders containing identical provisions, jointly call an election on the issue described by Subsection (a). The cost of an election called under this subsection is shared by the county and the principal municipality on a pro rata basis. (c) A county commissioners court by order shall call an election on the issue described by Subsection (a) on receipt of a resolution requesting that the election be called that has been adopted by the governing bodies of the principal municipality and the second most populous municipality located in the county. (d) A resolution under Subsection (c) must be adopted by the governing body of each petitioning municipality by a vote of not less than two-thirds of its membership. (e) A county commissioners court may order an election under this section on an issue described by Subsection (a) only after holding a public hearing regarding the issue. (f) The governing body of the principal municipality of a county described by Section 446.351 may, by order adopted by a majority vote of its membership, call an election within the boundaries of the municipality on the issue described in Subsection (a), the results of which only apply within the boundaries of the municipality. The municipality may adopt the order only after holding a public hearing regarding the issue. (g) A principal municipality ordering an election within the boundaries of the municipality under Subsection (f) has the powers and responsibilities granted to a county under Subchapter B within the boundaries of the municipality only. (h) Before an election may be called under this section, the metropolitan planning organization for the region in which the county or municipality calling the election is located must certify by majority vote that the list of proposed mobility improvement projects included on the proposed ballot are consistent with the organization's current long-range transportation plan. (i) An election under this subchapter: (1) may only be held on a uniform election date in November or May; and (2) may be called not more than 120 days prior to election day. (j) Notwithstanding Subsections (a)-(f), if either the county commissioners court or the governing body of the principal municipality described by Subsection (f) calls for an election, the other entity may not call for an election under this subchapter until the next uniform election date. (k) Notwithstanding Subsections (a)-(f) and (j), in the event a county commissioners court and the governing body of the principal municipality described by Subsection (f) call an election under this subchapter not more than 120 days prior to election day and not less than 110 days prior to election day: (1) each election order is deemed invalid; and (2) no additional election may be called under this subchapter until the next uniform election date. Sec. 446.354. CONTENTS OF ORDER; BALLOT PROPOSITION. (a) An order calling an election under Section 446.353 must include the ballot proposition to be used in the election. The ballot proposition must: (1) list each proposed mobility improvement project to be funded; (2) designate each proposed method of local option funding and the proposed rate or amount to be used to fund capital construction of each proposed mobility improvement project or group of projects and, if applicable, designate a separate and corresponding proposed rate or amount for the maintenance and operation of each proposed project or group of projects; (3) state the estimated date or dates on which each proposed method of local option funding is expected to expire; and (4) if applicable, list the estimated annual maintenance and operation expenses for each proposed mobility improvement project or group of projects for which a rate or amount is proposed under Subdivision (2). (b) The ballot proposition for an election ordered under Section 446.353(c) must include the name of each municipality petitioning under that subsection. Sec. 446.355. PROJECT SELECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Before a county or municipality may order an election under Section 446.353 or a municipality may adopt a resolution under Section 446.353(c), the county or municipality must establish a project selection advisory committee to recommend mobility improvement projects and related methods of local option funding authorized by this chapter. The composition of an advisory committee is determined by the county or municipality that establishes the committee. A county and principal municipality acting jointly under Section 446.353(b) may establish and compose a joint committee. Municipalities adopting a resolution under Section 446.353(c) may establish and compose a joint committee. (b) Each project selection advisory committee shall: (1) consult with: (A) the county or municipality that establishes the committee; (B) the municipalities located in the county; (C) any metropolitan planning organization for the region in which the county is located; (D) any regional mobility authority operating under Chapter 370, Transportation Code, that serves the county; (E) any transit or transportation authority created or operating under Subtitle K, Title 6, Transportation Code, that serves the county; and (F) any commuter rail district operating wholly or partially in the county; (2) give first consideration to mobility improvement projects of regional significance that complement or supplement the regional transportation system; and (3) consider the geographic location of other state-funded or federally funded transportation projects and mobility improvement projects so as to foster geographic equity in the planning and development of regional projects. Sec. 446.356. SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS. (a) After initial mobility improvement projects and methods of local option funding are determined and an initial election is called under Sections 446.353 and 446.354, a project selection advisory committee may recommend additional projects and funding, and additional elections may be called, using the procedures described by those sections. (b) Notwithstanding Section 446.353, the commissioners court of a county or the governing body of a municipality may not call an election under this subchapter before the 11th month following an election previously called under this subchapter. Sec. 446.357. TRANSIT OR TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SERVICES NOT AUTHORIZED. (a) A county acting under this subchapter may not directly operate or provide passenger rail services or any service expressly reserved by a transit authority created or operating under Chapter 451, Transportation Code, that serves the county. (b) This subchapter does not authorize the creation of a transit or transportation authority.