| TO: | Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB2017 by Watson (Relating to public participation in the development of transportation projects by the Texas Department of Transportation.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the Texas Transportation Commission, by rule, to provide for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to hold or provide the opportunity for one or more public hearings for any transportation project owned or operated by TxDOT that meets the general criteria established by the bill. The bill would require the rules to provide for the public's submission of oral or written comments, TxDOT's written responses to comments, and the preparation of transcripts of any oral comments. The bill would establish requirements for the timing and format for the notice of a public hearing by TxDOT. The bill would require TxDOT to provide certain information about a project for which a hearing is to be held, including a map or graphic illustration of the project, and to provide the Internet website address where the project information and hearing materials may be viewed.
Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
| Source Agencies: | 601 Department of Transportation
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, TG
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