Bill Text: TX HB4160 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to voter approval of local acceptance and use of federal funds for commuter rail projects.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-31 - Referred to Transportation [HB4160 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB4160-Introduced.html
By: Pickett | H.B. No. 4160 |
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relating to voter approval of local acceptance and use of federal | ||
funds for commuter rail projects. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. The heading to Subtitle B, Title 5, | ||
Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
SUBTITLE B. STATE AND LOCAL RAIL FACILITIES | ||
SECTION 2. Subtitle B, Title 5, Transportation Code, is | ||
amended by adding Chapter 92 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 92. LOCAL RAIL FACILITIES | ||
Sec. 92.001. VOTER APPROVAL FOR ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF | ||
FEDERAL FUNDS FOR COMMUTER RAIL PROJECTS. (a) A political | ||
subdivision may not accept, including through the department, or | ||
use federal funds for the construction, maintenance, or operation | ||
of a commuter rail or other commuter rail project, including for the | ||
repayment of debt issued for a project, unless: | ||
(1) the governing body of each municipality in which a | ||
station or track segment of the project is located or proposed to be | ||
located holds an election called for the purpose of authorizing the | ||
acceptance or use of the funds; and | ||
(2) a majority of the votes cast at each election favor | ||
the adoption of the proposition. | ||
(b) A political subdivision authorized to use federal funds | ||
for a project under Subsection (a) that has not begun to construct | ||
the project before the fifth anniversary of the date of the election | ||
may not use the funds unless: | ||
(1) the governing body of each municipality in which a | ||
station or track segment of the project is located or proposed to be | ||
located holds an election called for the purpose of authorizing the | ||
use of the funds; and | ||
(2) a majority of the votes cast at each election favor | ||
the adoption of the proposition. | ||
(c) A political subdivision, a metropolitan planning | ||
organization, or the department may not include in a transportation | ||
plan adopted by the entity a commuter rail or other commuter rail | ||
project that may be financed wholly or partly with federal funds | ||
unless acceptance or use of federal funds has been approved as | ||
required by this section. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |