By: Smith of Harris H.B. No. 2433 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2433By: Wentworth By: Wentworth

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 1, 2009; April 7, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security; April 17, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 17, 2009, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the powers of certain freight rail districts.

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

SECTION 1. Section 171.053, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 171.053. INTERMUNICIPAL COMMUTER RAIL DISTRICT POWERS. The governing bodies of the county or counties and of the most populous municipality in the most populous county may provide that the district may exercise the powers of an intermunicipal commuter rail district created under Article 6550c-1, Revised Statutes, including the powers related to a commuter rail facility and other types of passenger rail services, including intercity rail services, by specifying in the concurrent order or ordinance creating the district that those powers may be exercised by the district.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 171, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 171.256 to read as follows:

Sec. 171.256. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCING. (a) Section 8(d), Article 6550c-1, Revised Statutes, relating to the limit on payments made by a local government does not apply to a district to which Section 171.053 applies.

(b) A district to which Section 171.053 applies may use money paid to the district by a local government outside the territory of the local government if the money is used for a public purpose of the local government.

(c) A district to which Section 171.053 applies may pledge money paid to the district by a local government to secure the payment of a district debt.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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