81R2913 JAM-D
 
  By: McClendon H.B. No. 2142
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the promotion of toll projects by the Texas Department
  of Transportation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 228.004, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 228.004.  [PROMOTION OF] TOLL PROJECT INFORMATION. (a)
  The department may, notwithstanding Chapter 2113, Government Code,
  engage in marketing, advertising, and other activities to provide
  information relating to the status of pending or ongoing [promote
  the development and use of] toll projects and may enter into
  contracts or agreements necessary to procure marketing,
  advertising, or informational [other promotional] services from
  outside service providers.
         (b)  This section does not authorize the department to engage
  in marketing, advertising, or other activities for the purpose of
  influencing public opinion about the use of toll roads or the use of
  tolls as a financial mechanism.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a contract or agreement entered into or renewed under Section
  228.004, Transportation Code, on or after the effective date of
  this Act. A contract or agreement entered into or renewed under
  that section before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect immediately before that date, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.