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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of certain metropolitan rapid transit |
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authorities and related entities to request and receive federal |
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funds. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 451, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 451.069 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 451.069. SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS FOR FEDERAL FUNDS; |
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CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. (a) This section applies only to an authority |
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confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality |
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had a population of less than 850,000 at the time of the authority's |
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creation, and to any local government corporation created under |
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Chapter 431 of the Transportation Code and Chapter 394 of the Local |
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Government Code to which the authority appoints one or more members |
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of the governing body. |
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(b) The authority, or any other entity described in |
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subsection (a), may not apply for or receive federal funds, |
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including capital investment grants, to be used to support |
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construction or operation of a light rail transit system without |
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the approval of the governor. |
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(c) In determining whether to grant an approval under |
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Subsection (b), the governor shall consider: |
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(1) whether the governing body of the principal |
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municipality has taken actions to adequately address public health |
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and safety issues impacting individuals experiencing homelessness |
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and citizens of the municipality, including precluding camping in |
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public places and areas around transit stops, stations, and other |
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right-of-way so as to enhance the safety of users of the transit |
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authority system; |
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(2) whether the principal municipality has taken |
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adequate measures to enforce voter-approved restrictions against |
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camping, sitting or lying in public spaces so as to protect public |
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safety and the safety of users of the transit authority system; and |
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(3) the degree to which the request for funding will |
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compete with requests from other entities in Texas and therefore |
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result in a competitive disadvantage for the state. |
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(d) For purposes of determining whether the requirement of |
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subsection (c)(2) has been satisfied the governor my request that |
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the office of the attorney general review any voter-approved |
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restrictions and actions taken subsequent thereto and provide an |
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opinion as to whether the principal municipality is enforcing the |
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restrictions in accordance with the voter-approved proposition. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |