By: Pickett, Phillips, Martinez, Simmons, H.B. No. 13
      Burkett, et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
 
  relating to categories of and funding allocation for transportation
  projects by the Texas Department of Transportation and local
  transportation entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter P, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Sections 201.9901 and 201.9902 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 201.9901.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Planning organization" means:
                     (A)  a metropolitan planning organization; or
                     (B)  for an area that is not within the boundaries
  of a metropolitan planning organization, the department district
  that serves the area.
               (2)  "Region" means the area for which a planning
  organization develops plans under this subchapter.
               (3)  "Transportation official" means an official in a
  political subdivision who has responsibility for planning and
  implementation of transportation projects.
         Sec. 201.9902.  UPDATE TO TRANSPORTATION FUNDING CATEGORIES
  AND ALLOCATION FORMULAS. (a) Not later than October 1, 2015, the
  commission shall initiate a process to review the categories and
  formulas adopted under Sections 201.991(b)(2) and 201.996.
         (b)  The review process must include an effort by the
  department to seek the collective input of all planning
  organizations in the state. The department shall convene meetings
  as necessary to facilitate discussions among planning
  organizations that will result in a consensus recommendation among
  a majority of the planning organizations as to updated funding
  categories and funding allocation formulas.
         (c)  Not later than May 1, 2016, the commission shall adopt
  rules implementing updated funding categories and funding
  allocation formulas. To the extent that the adopted categories or
  funding allocation formulas differ from the consensus
  recommendations of the planning organizations, the commission must
  provide a detailed written explanation for the differences. The
  explanation must be made available on the department's Internet
  website.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2017.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter P, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Sections 201.9911, 201.9921, 201.9931, and
  201.9932 to read as follows:
         Sec. 201.9911.  PLANNING ORGANIZATION 10-YEAR PLAN. (a)
  Each planning organization shall develop a 10-year transportation
  plan for the use of the funding allocated to the region. The
  department shall assist the planning organizations by providing in
  a timely manner such information as is reasonably requested by the
  planning organizations.
         (b)  The plan must identify the items described by Section
  201.9921(b) as applicable to the planning organization and the
  funding of transportation projects in the region.
         (c)  The first four years of the plan shall be developed to
  meet the transportation improvement plan requirements of 23 U.S.C.
  Section 134 or 135, as applicable.
         (d)  For an area that is not within the boundaries of a
  metropolitan planning organization, the department district shall
  develop the 10-year transportation plan with input from municipal
  and county elected officials and transportation officials in the
  region.
         Sec. 201.9921.  TEN-YEAR CASH FLOW PROJECTION. (a) Not
  later than September 1 of each odd-numbered year, the department's
  chief financial officer shall prepare and publish a cash flow
  forecast for a period of not less than 10 years.
         (b)  The forecast must identify:
               (1)  the aggregate amount of all sources of funding
  available for eligible transportation projects;
               (2)  the amount previously committed to eligible
  transportation projects based on actions of the commission;
               (3)  the amount not committed to projects but that the
  department anticipates allocating during the forecast period
  through formulas adopted under Section 201.996; and
               (4)  the sources of all funds projected to be available
  during the forecast period, including bond proceeds, and an
  estimation of debt service payments associated with the bond
  proceeds.
         (c)  The first two years of the forecast must be based on the
  appropriation of funds in the General Appropriations Act for the
  department for that biennium.
         Sec. 201.9931.  PLANNING ORGANIZATION PROJECT SELECTION AND
  PRIORITIZATION. (a) Each planning organization shall select
  projects in its region and prioritize them using the criteria
  developed under Section 201.9932.
         (b)  For an area not located within the boundaries of a
  metropolitan planning organization, the applicable department
  district shall select projects and prioritize them with input from
  municipal and county elected officials and transportation
  officials using the criteria developed under Section 201.9932.
         (c)  The department shall compile the project selections of
  the planning organizations to develop the statewide transportation
  plan in accordance with 23 U.S.C. Section 135.
         Sec. 201.9932.  PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA. Each planning
  organization shall develop its own project selection criteria,
  which must include consideration of:
               (1)  projected improvements to congestion and safety;
               (2)  projected effects on economic development
  opportunities for residents of the region;
               (3)  available funding, including locally generated
  funding;
               (4)  effects on the environment, including air quality;
               (5)  socioeconomic effects; and
               (6)  any other factors deemed appropriate by the
  planning organization.
         SECTION 3.  Section 201.996, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  The commission may not consider transferring funds
  between categories by any method outside the established formulas
  or allocating funds subject to the discretion of the commission
  unless:
               (1)  the commission considers the transfer or
  allocation at a regularly scheduled commission meeting; and
               (2)  the department presents to the commission a
  written explanation of the transfer, including the need and
  justification for the deviation from the formula allocation or use
  of discretionary funds, at a regularly scheduled commission meeting
  held in the month before the meeting described by Subdivision (1).
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter P, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 201.9961 to read as follows:
         Sec. 201.9961.  USE OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND BOND PROCEEDS
  FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS. (a) If money from the general revenue fund
  or state highway fund is appropriated to the department for the
  state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2015, in an amount
  that exceeds the appropriation from those funds to the department
  for the previous fiscal biennium, or if a constitutional amendment
  providing additional money to the department is adopted, the
  commission may use the additional money to finance projects that
  would otherwise be financed using proceeds from:
               (1)  the sale and issuance of bonds and other public
  securities secured by the state highway fund under Section 49-n,
  Article III, Texas Constitution, as proposed by H.J.R. 28, 78th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2003; or
               (2)  general obligation bonds issued under Section
  49-p, Article III, Texas Constitution.
         (b)  The commission shall determine whether the unused
  proceeds from bonds described by Subsection (a) may be used to
  finance projects, in addition to those allocated funding under
  Section 201.996, that reduce congestion, increase capacity, reduce
  tolls, or promote safety. The commission shall adopt rules
  establishing criteria for projects to be considered eligible for
  financing under this subsection.
         (c)  Not later than the 30th day before the date the
  commission authorizes the use of money under this section, the
  commission shall hold a public meeting to consider that
  authorization.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2017.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.