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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to maintenance and operation of travel information centers |
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by the Texas Department of Transportation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Effective September 1, 2013, Section 156.251(d), |
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Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(d) An amount equal to the amount of revenue derived from |
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the collection of taxes imposed by this chapter at a rate of |
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one-half of one percent shall be allocated in the general revenue |
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fund to be used for media advertising and other marketing |
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activities of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office and |
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for the operation of travel information centers by the Texas |
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Department of Transportation. Section 403.095 [Division of the
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Texas Department of Commerce. Section 403.094(h)], Government |
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Code, does not apply to funds described in this section. [This
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subsection takes effect October 1, 1994.] |
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SECTION 2. Section 204.003, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 204.003. TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTERS. (a) In this |
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section, "travel information center" means an information center |
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located at a principal gateway of this state that provides [The
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department shall maintain and operate travel information centers at
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the principal gateways to this state to provide] highway |
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information, travel guidance, and descriptive material designed to |
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assist the traveling public and stimulate travel to and within this |
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state. |
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(b) The department may: |
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(1) transfer to a local government the operation of a |
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travel information center located in the local government's |
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boundaries; or |
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(2) issue a request for proposals to private and |
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nonprofit entities for the operation of a travel information |
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center. |
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(c) The department may maintain and operate the center as a |
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rest area without staff if: |
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(1) a local government does not assume the operation |
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of a travel information center under Subsection (b)(1); or |
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(2) the department finds none of the offers from its |
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request for proposals acceptable or is unable to comply with |
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federal law in issuing a contract under Subsection (b)(2). |
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(d) This section does not apply to a travel information |
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center located at the State Capitol. |
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SECTION 3. Section 204.004, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 204.004. PAYMENT OF COSTS. The department may pay from |
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highway revenues the cost, including the administration and |
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operation cost, of: |
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(1) developing, publishing, and distributing |
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material; [and] |
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(2) maintaining [and operating] travel information |
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centers; and |
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(3) maintaining and operating a travel information |
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center as an unstaffed rest area under Section 204.003(c). |
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SECTION 4. Section 204.009, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 204.009. SALE OF PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND COMMERCIAL |
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ADVERTISING SPACE. (a) The department may sell promotional items |
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such as calendars, books, prints, caps, light clothing, or other |
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items approved by the commission that advertise the resources of |
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this state. |
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(b) The department may sell commercial advertising space in |
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a travel information center if the advertising is displayed solely |
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within the travel information center and is not legible from the |
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highway. |
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(c) If the department sells commercial advertising space |
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under Subsection (b), the department shall set rates for commercial |
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advertising and other services available at a travel information |
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center at a level that generates receipts approximately sufficient |
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to cover the cost of its travel and information operations. |
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(d) All proceeds from the sale of the items and commercial |
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advertising space shall be deposited in a separate account in [to
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the credit of] the state highway fund for the department's use in |
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its travel and information operations. |
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(e) [(c)] Section 403.095, Government Code, does not apply |
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to money deposited under this section. |
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(f) The department may not engage in any activities |
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authorized under this section that would decrease the amount of |
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federal highway funding available to the department. |
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SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided by this Act: |
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(1) this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a |
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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; and |
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(2) if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |