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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the funding for and administration of travel and |
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information operations 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. 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) The |
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department shall maintain and operate travel information centers |
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[at 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) enter into an agreement with a local government, |
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including a commission created under Chapter 391, Local Government |
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Code, for the operation of a travel information center that is |
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located within the boundaries of the local government; and |
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(2) issue a request for proposals to private or |
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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 sell commercial advertising space at |
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a travel information center if the advertising is not visible from |
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the main traveled way of the highway. If the department sells |
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commercial advertising space, the department shall set rates for |
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the advertising and other services available at a travel |
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information center at a level that generates receipts approximately |
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sufficient to cover the cost of its travel and information |
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operations. |
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(d) The department may not engage in an activity authorized |
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under Subsection (c) or another provision of this chapter that |
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would decrease the amount of federal highway funding available to |
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the department. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 204.009, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 204.009. SALE OF PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, ADVERTISING, AND |
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. |
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SECTION 3. Section 204.009, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) The department may enter into an agreement for the |
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acknowledgment of donations if the acknowledgment does not contain |
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comparative or qualitative descriptions of the donor's products, |
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services, facilities, or companies. |
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(b) All proceeds from the sale of the items and advertising |
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under this chapter and all donations acknowledged under this |
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section shall be deposited to the credit of a separate account in |
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the state highway fund. Money in the account is dedicated for the |
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department's use in its travel and information operations. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2013. |
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