BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1029

By: Campbell

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

For many years, toll road projects have faced intense scrutiny and public opposition involving the conversion of existing nontolled state highways to toll roads. Current law authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to convert an existing nontolled state highway or segment of a highway into a toll road under certain conditions. S.B. 1029 seeks to prohibit TxDOT from converting certain nontolled state highways or segments of certain nontolled state highways to a toll road.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1029 amends the Transportation Code, in a provision prohibiting the Texas Department of Transportation from operating a nontolled state highway or a segment of such a highway as a toll project and from transferring a nontolled highway or segment to another entity as a toll project, to remove from the conditions creating an exception to that prohibition that the highway or segment was open to traffic as a turnpike project on or before September 1, 2005, or that the Texas Transportation Commission converts the highway or segment to a toll facility by specified means.

S.B. 1029 repeals provisions relating to the commission's authority by order to convert a nontolled state highway or a segment of a nontolled state highway to a toll project on making a determination regarding improved mobility and the means by which expansion, improvements, or extensions to that segment are most feasibly and economically accomplished.   

S.B. 1029 repeals the following provisions of the Transportation Code:

· Section 228.202

· Section 228.203 

· Section 228.207

· Section 228.208

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.