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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report by the Texas A&M Transportation |
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Institute regarding toll project entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Institute" means the Texas A&M Transportation |
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Institute. |
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(2) "Toll project" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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201.001(b), Transportation Code. |
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(3) "Toll project entity" means an entity that |
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operates a toll project, including: |
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(A) the Texas Department of Transportation under |
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Chapter 228, Transportation Code; |
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(B) a regional tollway authority under Chapter |
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366, Transportation Code; |
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(C) a regional mobility authority under Chapter |
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370, Transportation Code; or |
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(D) a county under Chapter 284, Transportation |
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Code. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The institute shall conduct a study |
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comparing the practices and operations of toll project entities |
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statewide. |
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(b) The study must include a comparison of: |
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(1) toll operations; |
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(2) error rates; |
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(3) customer complaints and case escalations; |
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(4) speed of processing; |
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(5) billing practices; and |
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(6) any other factors the institute deems appropriate. |
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(c) Not later than May 1, 2024, each toll project entity |
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shall submit to the institute the entity's comments on best |
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practices for and challenges experienced with the matters listed in |
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Subsection (b) of this section and any other matter that presents a |
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challenge to the entity in the operation of a toll project. The |
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institute shall incorporate the comments into the report required |
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by Section 3 of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2024, the |
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institute shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, |
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and the legislature a written report of the findings of the study. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires May 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |