BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1255

By: Lewis

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, there are no alternative routes for a truck traveling north or south through Andrews County, and Highway 385 represents 65 percent of the traffic passing through the municipality of Andrews. In 2007, the Andrews city council commissioned a north/south truck reliever route study to analyze truck traffic traveling through the populated areas of the municipality, specifically north/south traffic on U.S. Highway 385, which is also Main Street. The study concluded that a local ordinance to designate a truck route was the best solution. The reliever route, in addition to preventing truck traffic through the municipality, would be used to re-route hazardous waste and eventually be used for future economic development. The municipality is currently acquiring right-of-way for the route and there is a tentative agreement with Andrews County to prepare a road bed. However, before construction can begin, the municipality needs the authority to issue local certificates of obligation to pay for the pavement services.

H.B. 1255 allows a municipality such as Andrews to create an interlocal contract for the creation of a relief highway route around the municipality. The bill allows such a municipality to expend municipal funds and issue certificates of obligation or bonds to pay for expenses associated with the relief highway route.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1255 amends the Government Code to authorize the governing body of a municipality located in a county in which is located a facility licensed to dispose of low-level radioactive waste under the Texas Radiation Control Act to enter into an interlocal contract with the county for the construction and maintenance of a relief highway route around and outside the boundaries of the municipality that the governing body determines will serve a public purpose of the municipality. The bill authorizes the municipality to expend municipal funds and issue certificates of obligation or bonds to pay for expenses associated with the relief highway route.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.