BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2248

By: Rodríguez

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A tramway in West Texas owned and operated by the Parks and Wildlife Department closed in September 2018 after an engineering study determined that the tramway had exceeded its functional life expectancy. There is widespread support in the community near the state park serviced by the tramway to return it to a safe and operational condition to continue serving the public. However, there are concerns about the complexity of the project that could derail the restoration of the tramway. S.B. 2248 seeks to address this issue by amending the Regional Mobility Authority Act to provide for such a restoration project.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2248 amends the Transportation Code to include as a governmental entity for purposes of the Regional Mobility Authority Act another state agency in addition to the Texas Department of Transportation and to include as a transportation project for purposes of the act an aerial cable car or aerial tramway for the transportation of persons or property or both that is located in the jurisdiction of an authority created by a municipality that borders the United Mexican States and has a population of 105,000 or more.

S.B. 2248 establishes that an agreement between a regional mobility authority and a governmental entity in connection with a transportation project financed, acquired, constructed, or operated by the authority in which the entity issues obligations or enters into and makes payments under any related credit agreements may include a means for the entity to pledge or otherwise provide funds for a transportation project that benefits the governmental entity to be developed by the authority.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.