BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2050
	By: Schwertner
	Finance
	3/28/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Aviation Division is primarily responsible for providing federal and state grant funding for the improvement and development of the 278 general aviation airports in Texas' General Aviation Airport System. It has become increasingly difficult to provide the level of airport grant funding necessary to meet the state's general aviation airport development needs. Support has remained at $19 million from TxDOT and $60 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for the last 18 years. Of the federal funding received, two-thirds is assigned to specific qualifying airports for maintenance, leaving $20 million to be designated to remaining projects at TxDOT's discretion.

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Annual maintenance and construction costs have increased over the years, causing the grant program to be 51 percent less effective. Unless airport facilities are provided with additional resources, they will be unable to met increasing air transportation demand as Texas' population continues to grow.

S.B. 2050 creates a much-needed account for state airport development. This account would contribute to both the safety and preservation of the existing aviation system and promote economic growth across the state.

As proposed, S.B. 2050 amends current law relating to the creation of the aviation development account.

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 Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Transportation Code, by adding Section 21.1045, as follows:

Sec. 21.1045. AVIATION DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT. (a) Provides that the aviation development account is a separate account in the general revenue fund.

(b) Provides that the account consists of transfers made to the account.

(c) Authorizes money in the account to be appropriated only to the Texas Department of Transportation for making grants to political subdivisions under this subchapter (Aviation Facilities Development and Financial Assistance).

(d) Provides that any money in the account not appropriated for a state fiscal year remains in the account. Provides that the account is exempt from the application of Section 403.095 (Use of Dedicated Revenue), Government Code.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.