81R3421 MTB-D

By: Aycock H.B. No. 1561

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 371, Transportation Code, as added by Chapters 103 (H.B. 570) and 258 (S.B. 11), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, is reenacted, redesignated as Chapter 372, Transportation Code, and amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 372 [371]. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF

TOLL PROJECT

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 372.001 [371.001]. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Toll project" means a toll project described by Section 201.001(b), regardless of whether the toll project:

(A) is a part of the state highway system; or

(B) is subject to the jurisdiction of the department.

(2) "Toll project entity" means an entity authorized by law to acquire, design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain a toll project, including:

(A) the department under Chapter 227 or 228;

(B) a regional tollway authority under Chapter 366;

(C) a regional mobility authority under Chapter 370; or

(D) a county under Chapter 284.

SUBCHAPTER B. TOLL PROJECT OPERATION

Sec. 372.051 [371.051]. USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION OR LICENSE PLATE INFORMATION. (a) A toll project entity may not use motor vehicle registration or other information derived from a license plate on a vehicle using a toll project, including information obtained by the use of automated enforcement technology described by Section 228.058, for purposes other than those related to:

(1) toll collection and toll collection enforcement; and

(2) law enforcement purposes on request by a law enforcement agency[, subject to Section 228.058(d)].

(b) If a toll project entity enters into an agreement with an entity in another state that involves the exchange of motor vehicle registration or license plate information for toll collection or toll collection enforcement purposes, the agreement must provide that the information may not be used for purposes other than those described in Subsection (a).

Sec. 372.052 [371.001]. VEHICLES USED BY NONPROFIT DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS. [(a) In this section:

[(1) "Toll project" means a toll project described by Section 201.001(b), regardless of whether the toll project is:

[(A) a part of the state highway system; or

[(B) subject to the jurisdiction of the department.

[(2) "Toll project entity" means an entity authorized by law to acquire, design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain a toll project, including:

[(A) the department under Chapter 227 or 228;

[(B) a regional tollway authority under Chapter 366;

[(C) a regional mobility authority under Chapter 370; or

[(D) a county under Chapter 284.

[(b)] A toll project entity may not require a vehicle registered under Section 502.203 to pay a toll for the use of a toll project.

Sec. 372.053. DISABLED VETERAN DISCOUNT PROGRAM. (a) A toll project entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered by a veteran of the United States armed forces who became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury.

(b) The legislature may appropriate funds from the general revenue fund to a toll project entity to defray the cost of providing free or discounted use of the entity's toll project under this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.