BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2578
	By: Thompson, Ed (Alvarado)
	Transportation
	5/13/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Concerns have been raised that restrictions imposed on certain tolling fees in recent legislation may harm the financial stability of tolling projects for which the contract was awarded before that legislation was passed. H.B. 2578 seeks to remedy this situation by exempting toll collection by a private entity or subcontractor under a comprehensive development agreement made before a certain date from the applicable statutory provisions.

H.B. 2578 amends the Transportation Code to exempt toll collection by a private participant or subcontractor under a comprehensive development agreement entered into before September 1, 2017, from statutory provisions governing the use of video billing or other tolling methods to permit the registered owner of a vehicle to pay a toll at a later date after receiving an invoice.

H.B. 2578 amends current law relating to toll collection and enforcement by private participants in certain comprehensive development agreements with the Texas Department of Transportation.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 223.208, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (i), as follows:

(i) Provides that Sections 228.0545 (Toll Not Paid at Time of Use; Invoice), 228.0546 (Invoice Requirements; Payment Due Date), and 228.0547 (Payment of Toll Invoice; Offense) do not apply to toll collection by a private participant or subcontractor under a comprehensive development agreement for a toll project located in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more if the agreement was entered into before September 1, 2017.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.