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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a report by the Texas Department of Transportation and |
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the Legislative Budget Board on high-speed rail projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 111, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 111.005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 111.005. REPORT ON HIGH-SPEED RAIL BY DEPARTMENT AND |
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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD. (a) In this section, "high-speed rail" |
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means intercity passenger rail service that is reasonably expected |
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to reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour. |
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(b) A state senator or representative may submit a request |
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to the department for a report on a proposed high-speed rail |
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project. |
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(c) If the department receives a request under Subsection |
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(b), the department shall prepare a report on the proposed |
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high-speed rail project that includes: |
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(1) an assessment of whether the project serves a |
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public use, as described by Section 17, Article I, Texas |
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Constitution; |
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(2) an assessment of whether projected ridership |
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numbers are sufficient to provide the project with revenue that |
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will cover the maintenance and operation costs of the project; |
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(3) any projected changes to costs of local and state |
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transportation projects that could result from the project; |
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(4) any projected costs to communities near the |
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project that could result from the project; and |
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(5) any projected decreases in land value near the |
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project that could result from the project. |
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(d) The department shall collaborate with the Legislative |
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Budget Board on the financial issues in the report. |
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(e) Not later than the 45th day after the date the |
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department receives a request for a report, the department shall |
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hold at least one public hearing to receive public input on the |
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issues described by Subsection (c). |
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(f) After the department holds a public hearing, and not |
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later than the 90th day after the date the department receives a |
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request for a report, the department shall submit a preliminary |
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report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of |
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the house of representatives. |
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(g) Not earlier than the 30th day and not later than the 60th |
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day after the date the department submits the preliminary report, |
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the department shall publish a final report on the department's |
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Internet website. |
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(h) The department is not required to prepare more than one |
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report under this section for a particular high-speed rail project |
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per year. |
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(i) A party to a suit in which a private entity alleges that |
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the entity may use the power of eminent domain for a high-speed rail |
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project, regardless of whether the alleged power is statutorily |
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authorized, may submit a report described by this section on the |
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project as evidence of whether the project serves a public use, as |
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described by Section 17, Article I, Texas Constitution. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |