Bill Text: TX HB3755 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to management of certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-20 - Left pending in committee [HB3755 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB3755-Introduced.html
  82R2725 VOO-D
 
  By: Cook H.B. No. 3755
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to management of certain metropolitan rapid transit
  authorities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 451, Transportation Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C-1.  ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN
  AUTHORITIES
         Sec. 451.131.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies only
  to an authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the
  principal municipality has a population of less than 850,000.
         Sec. 451.132.  BUDGET.  (a)  The board shall include in the
  budget adopted under Section 451.102:
               (1)  operating expenses and capital expenditures; and
               (2)  amounts budgeted and sources of funding for each
  major department of the authority.
         (b)  Before adoption of a budget the board shall consider
  detailed information from each major department of the authority on
  capital improvement projects proposed for the applicable fiscal
  year and budget needs for those projects.  The considered
  information must include:
               (1)  project purposes;
               (2)  project benefits;
               (3)  project funding sources;
               (4)  project implementation costs; and
               (5)  any operational costs resulting from a project.
         Sec. 451.133.  FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.  (a)  The
  board shall adopt a five-year plan for capital improvement projects
  that supports the strategic goals outlined in Section 451.137 and
  that:
               (1)  describes planned projects, including type and
  scope;
               (2)  prioritizes the projects;
               (3)  addresses proposed project financing, including
  any effect a project may have on ongoing operational costs;
               (4)  identifies sources of funding for projects,
  including local and federal funds; and
               (5)  establishes policies for projects, including
  policies on:
                     (A)  planning;
                     (B)  approval;
                     (C)  cost estimation;
                     (D)  project reports; and
                     (E)  expense tracking.
         (b)  The board shall hold a public meeting on a proposed
  capital improvement plan before adopting the plan and must make the
  proposed plan available to the public for review and comment.
         (c)  The board shall annually reevaluate and, if necessary,
  amend the capital improvement plan to ensure compliance with this
  section.
         (d)  The capital improvement plan should, as appropriate,
  align with the long-range transportation plan of the metropolitan
  planning organization that serves the area of the authority.
         Sec. 451.134.  OPERATING EXPENSES AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  
  (a)  An authority may not spend for capital improvements money in
  excess of the total amount allocated for major capital expenditures
  in the annual budget.
         (b)  The board shall adopt rules requiring each major
  department of the authority to report quarterly on operating
  expenses and capital expenditures of the department.  A report must
  include status information on:
               (1)  any completions of capital improvement projects;
               (2)  work completed on capital improvement projects in
  relation to money spent on those projects; and
               (3)  problems or concerns regarding contract
  management for capital improvement projects.
         (c)  The board shall establish a system for tracking the
  progress of the authority's capital improvement projects,
  including:
               (1)  baseline budgets;
               (2)  contract awards;
               (3)  contract changes; and
               (4)  expenditures to date.
         Sec. 451.135.  OPERATING RESERVE ACCOUNT.  (a) The board
  shall establish, in an account separate from other funds, a reserve
  account in an amount that is not less than an amount equal to
  budgeted operating expenses for two months.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the board must
  maintain in the reserve account a balance that is not less than the
  amount in the account at the beginning of the fiscal year.
         (c)  The board may make an expenditure from the reserve
  account that causes the balance in the account to be less than the
  amount required under Subsection (b) only if the board considers
  the expense necessary to address emergency circumstances that could
  not have been planned for or anticipated.  The board shall adopt
  criteria for emergency expenditures under this subsection.
         (d)  If reserve funds are spent under Subsection (c), the
  board shall, as soon as practicable, restore the balance of the
  reserve account to at least the amount in the account at the
  beginning of the fiscal year in which the emergency spending
  occurred.
         (e)  The board shall maintain, update, and post on the
  authority's Internet website accounting records of the reserve
  account's:
               (1)  balance at the end of the fiscal year;
               (2)  deposits;
               (3)  expenditures; and
               (4)  interest income.
         Sec. 451.136.  GENERAL MANAGER PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.  (a)  
  The board shall adopt a policy of regular evaluation of the general
  manager's performance.  In accordance with Section 551.074,
  Government Code, the board may discuss an evaluation of the general
  manager's performance in a closed meeting.
         (b)  The board shall adopt a policy regarding discussion of
  general manager compensation at public meetings.  The board must
  vote on proposed changes in the general manager's compensation,
  including raises and bonuses, in a public meeting.
         Sec. 451.137.  FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.  (a)  The board
  shall adopt a strategic five-year plan that establishes the
  authority's mission and goals and summarizes planned activities to
  achieve the mission and goals.
         (b)  The plan must set policies and service priorities to
  guide the authority in developing a budget and allocating
  resources.
         (c)  The plan should, as appropriate, align with the
  long-range transportation plan of the metropolitan planning
  organization that serves the area of the authority.
         (d)  The board shall annually reevaluate and, if necessary,
  amend the plan to ensure compliance with this section.
         Sec. 451.138.  RAIL DIRECTOR.  (a)  The board shall employ a
  rail director to oversee and be accountable for all rail system
  development, operations, maintenance, and safety. The rail
  director shall:
               (1)  oversee all personnel and contractors responsible
  for operating and maintaining commuter rail and freight rail
  systems and equipment;
               (2)  oversee rail safety activities, including testing
  to ensure a safe and effective signal system and operations and
  control center;
               (3)  develop a plan that specifies a division of rail
  system responsibilities between rail capital improvement project
  activities and rail maintenance activities and that ensures the
  safety of railroad bridges;
               (4)  ensure compliance with any applicable federal,
  state, and local rail safety regulations or requirements;
               (5)  coordinate with the authority's engineering and
  construction department or equivalent department to design and
  construct any new rail projects; and
               (6)  report to the general manager and board on the rail
  system's safety, performance, and financial status.
         (b)  The rail director may stop rail operations at any time
  if the rail director believes the stop is necessary to protect
  public safety.
         Sec. 451.139.  RAIL SAFETY PLAN AND REPORTS.  (a)  The board
  shall adopt and implement a rail safety plan in accordance with
  federal and industry standards for all authority rail activities,
  including commuter and freight rail activities.
         (b)  The plan must address and emphasize ongoing maintenance
  and safety of the authority's railroad bridges.
         (c)  To ensure that contractor services on the authority's
  rail system meet safety obligations, the plan must include
  specifics regarding monitoring of contractors for safety-related
  performance, including regular:
               (1)  hazard analyses;
               (2)  risk assessments; and
               (3)  safety audits.
         (d)  The rail director shall report quarterly to the board on
  the safety of the authority's rail system.  The authority shall
  report quarterly to the Texas Department of Transportation on the
  safety of the authority's rail system and shall report on any aspect
  of the safety of the rail system on request from that department.
         Sec. 451.140.  COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR AND PURCHASE OF TRANSIT
  SERVICES.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (f), after
  providing notice of a proposal, a board must submit to competitive
  bids a contract for and must purchase transit services that:
               (1)  include:
                     (A)  administration of motor bus or sedan transit
  services;
                     (B)  motor bus or sedan driving, maintenance, or
  repair;
                     (C)  transit services for persons who have
  disabilities, including through a program established under
  Section 451.254; or
                     (D)  rail transit services; and
               (2)  are not provided wholly by an employee of the
  authority who is directly paid by the authority and works under the
  daily supervision of the authority's general manager.
         (b)  For the purposes of Subsection (a)(2), services are not
  provided wholly by an employee of the authority if the person is an
  employee of an entity incorporated as a state nonprofit by the board
  of the authority and with which the authority contracts for transit
  or employee services.
         (c)  Notice under Subsection (a) must be published in a
  newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the authority
  is located at least once each week for two consecutive weeks before
  the date set for receiving the bids.  The first notice must be
  published at least 15 days before the date set for receiving bids.
         (d)  A contract let under this section must include:
               (1)  performance control measures;
               (2)  incentives for performance;
               (3)  penalties for noncompliance; and
               (4)  a contract termination date.
         (e)  The board shall adopt rules on:
               (1)  the taking of bids;
               (2)  the awarding of contracts; and
               (3)  the waiver of the competitive bidding requirement
  if there is:
                     (A)  an emergency; or
                     (B)  only one source for the service or purchase.
         (f)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a contract or purchase:
               (1)  in an amount of $25,000 or less;
               (2)  for personal or professional services; or
               (3)  for the acquisition of an existing transit system.
         Sec. 451.141.  PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT POLICY.  (a)  The board
  shall adopt a policy of involving the public in board decisions
  regarding authority policies. The policy must:
               (1)  ensure that the public has an opportunity to
  comment on board matters before a vote on the matters;
               (2)  ensure that any consent agenda or expedition of
  consideration of board matters at board meetings is used only for
  routine, noncontroversial matters;
               (3)  establish a time frame and mechanism for the board
  to obtain public input throughout the year, including input on:
                     (A)  strategic planning;
                     (B)  budgeting;
                     (C)  capital improvement project planning;
                     (D)  transit initiatives; and
                     (E)  service changes; and
               (4)  plan for dissemination of information on how the
  public can be involved in board matters.
         (b)  The board shall post the policy adopted under this
  section on the authority's Internet website.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 451.132 and 451.134(a), Transportation
  Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a budget adopted on or
  after September 1, 2012.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2014, a metropolitan
  rapid transit authority required to establish a reserve account
  under Section 451.135, Transportation Code, as added by this Act,
  shall establish the account.
         SECTION 4.  Not later than September 30, 2012, a
  metropolitan rapid transit authority required by Sections 451.133,
  451.134(c), 451.136, 451.137, 451.139, and 451.141, Transportation
  Code, as added by this Act, to establish a five-year capital
  improvement plan, a capital improvement projects tracking system,
  general manager policies, a five-year strategic plan, a rail safety
  plan, and a public involvement policy, respectively, shall develop
  the plans, policies, and system.
         SECTION 5.  Not later than September 1, 2012, individuals
  providing for a metropolitan rapid transit authority transit
  services described by Section 451.140, Transportation Code, as
  added by this Act, must be providing those services as employees of
  the authority or under a contract or agreement that complies with
  the competitive bidding and purchase requirements of that section.
         SECTION 6.  Not later than September 30, 2012, a
  metropolitan rapid transit authority required to hire a rail
  director under Section 451.138, Transportation Code, as added by
  this Act, shall hire that director.
         SECTION 7.  Not later than September 30, 2012, a
  metropolitan rapid transit authority required to adopt rules under
  Section 451.134(b), Transportation Code, as added by this Act,
  shall adopt those rules.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
feedback