By: Schwertner  S.B. No. 977
         (In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2017; March 6, 2017,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;
  April 10, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 2; April 10, 2017,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 977 By:  Hall
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the use of state money for high-speed rail operated by a
  private entity.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 199, Transportation Code, is amended by
  adding Section 199.003 to read as follows:
         Sec. 199.003.  USE OF STATE MONEY FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL.  
  (a)  For the purposes of this section, "high-speed rail" means
  intercity passenger rail service that is reasonably expected to
  reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour.
         (b)  Except as required by federal law or other state law,
  including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
  Section 4321 et seq.):
               (1)  the legislature may not appropriate money to pay
  for a cost of planning, facility construction or maintenance, or
  security for, promotion of, or operation of, high-speed rail
  operated by a private entity; and
               (2)  a state agency may not accept or use state money to
  pay for a cost described by Subdivision (1).
         (c)  A state agency shall prepare a semiannual report of each
  expense described by this section and submit a copy of each report
  to:
               (1)  the commission;
               (2)  the comptroller;
               (3)  the committee in each house of the legislature
  with primary jurisdiction over transportation;
               (4)  the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (5)  the lieutenant governor; and
               (6)  the governor.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
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