BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 2620

By: Burkett

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, traffic and revenue reports and financial projections related to toll projects under a comprehensive development agreement are confidential until an agreement is entered into for the project. Interested parties note that these projections and reports would be useful for determining how much public subsidy is required for such a toll project. H.B. 2620 seeks to address this issue by increasing transparency and encouraging more responsible decision-making on a project that may require large sums of taxpayer dollars to subsidize.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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

 

H.B. 2620 amends the Transportation Code to subject financial studies and reports associated with a toll project, including financial forecasts and traffic and revenue reports, to disclosure, inspection, and copying under state public information law, regardless of whether a final contract has been entered into for the project.

 

H.B. 2620 repeals Section 371.052(d), Transportation Code.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.