BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 316

                                                                                                                                   By: Wentworth

Transportation & Homeland Security

6/5/2009

Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Quiet Zone program aids governmental entities in reducing noise resulting from the routine sounding of train horns.

S.B. 316 would allow certain general-law municipalities entirely surrounded by a municipality with a population of 1.1 million or more to enter into an interlocal agreement with that municipality for the establishment of a railroad quiet zone located outside the corporate boundaries of the general-law municipality. S.B. 316 would also authorize the general-law municipalities to expend municipal funds or issue certificates of obligation or bonds to pay for the expenses associated with the railroad quiet zone.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 311, Transportation Code, by adding Section 311.054, as follows:

Sec.  311.054.  RAILROAD QUIET ZONE LOCATED OUTSIDE TYPE A GENERAL-LAW MUNICIPALITY.  (a) Provides that this section applies only to a Type A general-law municipality that is an enclave surrounded entirely by a municipality with a population of 1.1 million or more.

(b) Authorizes the governing body of the general-law municipality to enter into an interlocal contract with the surrounding municipality for the establishment of a railroad quiet zone located outside the boundaries of the general-law municipality that the governing body determines will benefit the general-law municipality.

(c) Authorizes a general-law municipality to expend municipal funds and issue certificates of obligation or bonds to pay for expenses associated with a railroad quiet zone under Subsection (b), including expenses related to feasibility, engineering, and traffic studies and improvements related to the railroad quiet zone.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2009.