Honorable Terry Canales, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2168 by Watson (Relating to relief from local matching funds requirements for certain counties.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Transportation Code §222.053, regarding relief from local matching funds requirements for an economically disadvantaged county, to stipulate that a county is considered to be economically disadvantaged if it meets the current law criteria in §222.053 within the past six years and has been included in no less than five federally declared disasters within the same time period.
Based on the information provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, it is assumed any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing highway planning and construction funds.
Local Government Impact
It is assumed the provisions of the bill would result in a positive impact to counties that would meet the bill's new criteria for "economically disadvantaged counties" and become eligible for relief from local matching funds requirements for certain transportation projects.