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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the application for federal highway and rail funds by a |
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regional mobility authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 370.033(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An authority, through its board, may: |
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(1) adopt rules for the regulation of its affairs and |
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the conduct of its business; |
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(2) adopt an official seal; |
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(3) study, evaluate, design, finance, acquire, |
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construct, maintain, repair, and operate transportation projects, |
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individually or as one or more systems, provided that a |
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transportation project that is subject to Subpart C, 23 C.F.R. Part |
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450, is: |
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(A) included in the plan approved by the |
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applicable metropolitan planning organization; and |
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(B) consistent with the statewide transportation |
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plan and the statewide transportation improvement program; |
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(4) acquire, hold, and dispose of property in the |
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exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this |
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chapter; |
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(5) enter into contracts or operating agreements with |
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a similar authority, another governmental entity, or an agency of |
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the United States, a state of the United States, the United Mexican |
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States, or a state of the United Mexican States; |
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(6) enter into contracts or agreements necessary or |
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incidental to its powers and duties under this chapter; |
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(7) cooperate and work directly with property owners |
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and governmental entities and officials to support an activity |
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required to promote or develop a transportation project; |
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(8) employ and set the compensation and benefits of |
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administrators, consulting engineers, attorneys, accountants, |
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construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, |
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full-time and part-time employees, agents, consultants, and other |
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persons as the authority considers necessary or useful; |
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(8-a) participate in the state travel management |
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program administered by the comptroller for the purpose of |
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obtaining reduced airline fares and reduced travel agent fees, |
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provided that the comptroller may charge the authority a fee not to |
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exceed the costs incurred by the comptroller in providing services |
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to the authority; |
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(9) notwithstanding Sections 221.003 and 222.031 and |
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subject to Subsection [Subsections (j) and] (m), apply for, |
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directly or indirectly receive and spend loans, gifts, grants, and |
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other contributions for any purpose of this chapter, including the |
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construction of a transportation project, and receive and spend |
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contributions of money, property, labor, or other things of value |
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from any source, including the United States, a state of the United |
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States, the United Mexican States, a state of the United Mexican |
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States, the commission, the department, a subdivision of this |
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state, or a governmental entity or private entity, to be used for |
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the purposes for which the grants, loans, or contributions are |
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made, and enter into any agreement necessary for the grants, loans, |
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or contributions; |
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(10) install, construct, or contract for the |
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construction of public utility facilities, direct the time and |
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manner of construction of a public utility facility in, on, along, |
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over, or under a transportation project, or request the removal or |
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relocation of a public utility facility in, on, along, over, or |
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under a transportation project; |
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(11) organize a corporation under Chapter 431 for the |
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promotion and development of transportation projects; |
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(12) adopt and enforce rules not inconsistent with |
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this chapter for the use of any transportation project, including |
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tolls, fares, or other user fees, speed and weight limits, and |
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traffic and other public safety rules, provided that an authority |
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must consider the same factors that the Texas Turnpike Authority |
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division of the department must consider in altering a prima facie |
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speed limit under Section 545.354; |
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(13) enter into leases, operating agreements, service |
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agreements, licenses, franchises, and similar agreements with a |
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public or private party governing the party's use of all or any |
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portion of a transportation project and the rights and obligations |
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of the authority with respect to a transportation project; |
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(14) borrow money from or enter into a loan agreement |
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or other arrangement with the state infrastructure bank, the |
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department, the commission, or any other public or private entity; |
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and |
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(15) do all things necessary or appropriate to carry |
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out the powers and duties expressly granted or imposed by this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 370.033(j), Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |