BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2341

By: Guillen

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current Texas law, regional mobility authorities do not receive federal funds for public transit, as there is no available mechanism through which these authorities may apply as a designated recipient for public transportation funding should they meet the requisite qualifications. This limits underdeveloped areas in Texas from accessing additional funds for public transportation. H.B. 2341 seeks to address this issue by providing a procedure for regional mobility authorities to receive certain federal public transportation funding if the authority demonstrates the appropriate qualifications and provides the documentation to the Texas Department of Transportation necessary to receive the aid.

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

H.B. 2341 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit a regional mobility authority from applying for an urbanized area formula grant under federal law without the approval of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The bill prohibits TxDOT from giving approval to a regional mobility authority to apply for the grants unless the authority becomes a designated recipient, as defined by federal law, by doing the following:

·         demonstrating to TxDOT the appropriate expertise, financial resources, and gaps in regional transit service; and

·         providing TxDOT with documentation of concurrence in the selection of the designated recipient, or any successor documentation required by federal law, by the providers of publicly owned public transportation service in the applicable urbanized area, as defined by federal law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.