Amend CSHB 1 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered rider in Article VII after the appropriations to the Department of Transportation:

____. Report on the Elimination of Toll Roads. Out of funds appropriated above, it is the intent of the legislature that the Texas Department of Transportation conduct a study on the feasibility of eliminating toll roads and the payment of debt to accomplish this purpose. It is the intent of the legislature that the report:

(1)  list the amount of debt service on bonds issued for each toll project in this state;

(2)  identify, based on criteria provided by the Texas Transportation Commission, bonds that would be appropriate for accelerated or complete lump-sum payment of debt service; and

(3)  propose a plan to eliminate all toll roads in this state, except for tolls on roads constructed, operated, or maintained only with proceeds from the issuance of bonds by a toll project entity other than the department, by methods including:

(A)  the accelerated or complete lump-sum payment of debt service on bonds identified under Subdivision (1); or

(B)  requiring, as a condition on receipt of state financial assistance, a commitment by a toll project entity to eliminate toll collection on a project for which the financial assistance is provided.

It is the intent of the legislature that the report be completed by September 1, 2016, and a copy be provided to the Legislative Budget Board and the standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over transportation matters.