BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.J.R. 13

By: Harris

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Transportation advocates who want good roads in Texas point out that currently, only revenue from taxes on motor fuels and lubricants, vehicle registrations, and federal reimbursements is constitutionally dedicated to the acquisition of rights-of-way and the construction, maintenance, and policing of public roadways. Such advocates note that in recent legislative sessions, new funding mechanisms, including tolling, have been created to fund projects and that toll projects have the potential to produce significant amounts of revenue, both up front and over time, as demonstrated by the State Highway 121 project in Dallas, Denton, and Collin Counties, as well as the State Highway 161 project in Dallas County. 

Emphasizing that the legislature currently operates under a policy that requires the revenue from toll projects to be used to build other transportation projects, transportation advocates for good roads support dedicating toll project revenue to roadways.  C.S.S.J.R. 13 seeks to address such matters by proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating certain revenue collected by a public entity from the use of a tolled highway project in Texas exclusively to roadway purposes.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.J.R. 13 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to authorize revenue that is collected by a public entity from the use of a tolled highway project in Texas, other than an international bridge, and that is not dedicated to repayment of debt for the project to be used only for the acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance, or improvement of roadways.  The resolution sets out the required ballot language. 

ELECTION DATE

The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.J.R. 13 differs from the original by authorizing revenue collected by a public entity from the use of a tolled highway project in Texas, other than an international bridge, that is not dedicated to repayment of project debt to be used only for the acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance, or improvement of roadways, whereas the original restricts the use of such revenue to the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or improvement of transportation projects.  The substitute differs from the original, in the provision setting out the required ballot language, by specifying the restricted use of revenue for roadways, whereas the original specifies the restricted use of revenue for transportation projects.