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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation, counties, and certain toll project entities and |
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regional mobility authorities to enter into funding agreements to |
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expedite the entity's environmental review duties related to |
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certain transportation projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 222, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 222.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 222.004. AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO |
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EXPEDITE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. (a) The department, a county, a |
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regional tollway authority operating under Chapter 366, or a |
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regional mobility authority operating under Chapter 370 may enter |
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into an agreement to provide funds to a state or federal agency to |
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expedite the agency's performance of its duties related to the |
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environmental review process for transportation projects: |
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(1) of the department; |
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(2) listed in a metropolitan planning organization's |
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long-range transportation plan under 23 U.S.C. Section 134; or |
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(3) of a county, a regional tollway authority |
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operating under Chapter 366, or a regional mobility authority |
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operating under Chapter 370. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an agreement |
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entered into under this section: |
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(1) may specify transportation projects the |
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applicable entity considers to be priorities for review; and |
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(2) must require the agency receiving money to |
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complete the environmental review in less time than is customary |
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for the completion of environmental review by that agency. |
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(c) The department may enter into a separate agreement for a |
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transportation project that the department determines has regional |
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importance. |
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(d) An agreement entered into under this section does not |
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diminish or modify the rights of the public regarding review and |
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comment on transportation projects. |
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(e) An entity entering into an agreement under this section |
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shall make the agreement available on the entity's Internet |
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website. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |