Bill Text: TX HB772 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a limitation on the amount of tolls and other charges that may be imposed by toll project entities for the use of toll projects.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-20 - Referred to Transportation [HB772 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB772-Introduced.html

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85R4512 JTS-D
By: Burkett H.B. No. 772

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a limitation on the amount of tolls and other charges
that may be imposed by toll project entities for the use of toll
projects.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 228.012(a) and (b), Transportation
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall create a separate account in the
state highway fund to hold payments received by the department
under a comprehensive development agreement [and the surplus
revenue of a toll project or system]. The department shall create
subaccounts in the account for each project, system, or region.
Interest earned on money in a subaccount shall be deposited to the
credit of that subaccount.
(b) The department shall hold money in a subaccount in trust
for the benefit of the region in which a project or system is
located and may assign the responsibility for allocating money in a
subaccount to a metropolitan planning organization in which the
region is located for projects approved by the department. At the
time the project is approved by the department money shall be
allocated and distributed to projects authorized by Section
228.0055 [or Section 228.006, as applicable].
SECTION 2. Section 228.053, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (b) and (f) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(b) The tolls shall be set so that[, at a minimum,] the
aggregate of tolls from the toll project or system, together with
other revenue and contributions, if any,[:
[(1)] provides a fund sufficient, but not more than
necessary [with other revenue and contributions, if any], to:
(1) pay:
(A) the cost of maintaining, repairing, and
operating the project or system; and
(B) the principal of and interest on any
outstanding [the] bonds issued [under Subchapter C] for the project
or system as those bonds become due and payable; and
(2) create any required [creates] reserves for the
purposes listed under Subdivision (1).
(b-1) After all outstanding bonds and other obligations
secured by toll revenue of a toll project have been repaid or
otherwise satisfied, tolls collected for use of the project may be
used only for the maintenance and operation of the portion of the
project for which the tolls were collected.
(f) The revenue and disbursements for each toll project or
system shall be kept separately. The revenue from one project may
not be used to pay the cost of another project except as authorized
by Section [Sections] 228.0055 [and 228.006].
SECTION 3. Section 228.104(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The principal of, interest on, and any redemption
premium on bonds issued by the commission under this subchapter are
payable solely from:
(1) the revenue of the toll project or system for which
the bonds are issued, including tolls pledged to pay the bonds;
(2) the proceeds of bonds issued for the project or
system;
(3) the amounts deposited in a debt service reserve
fund as required by the trust agreement securing bonds issued for
the project or system;
(4) amounts received under a credit agreement relating
to the project or system for which the bonds are issued; and
(5) [surplus revenue of another project or system as
authorized by Section 228.006; and
[(6)] amounts received by the department:
(A) as pass-through tolls under Section 222.104;
(B) under an agreement with a local governmental
entity entered into under Section 228.254;
(C) under other agreements with a local
governmental entity relating to the project or system for which the
bonds are issued; and
(D) under a comprehensive development agreement
entered into under Section 223.201.
SECTION 4. Section 228.105, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 228.105. SOURCES OF PAYMENT OF AND SECURITY FOR TOLL
REVENUE BONDS. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
subchapter, toll revenue bonds issued by the commission may:
(1) be payable from and secured by:
(A) payments made under an agreement with a local
governmental entity as provided by Section 228.254;
(B) the proceeds of bonds issued for the toll
project or system; or
(C) amounts deposited in a debt service reserve
fund as required by the trust agreement securing bonds issued for
the project or system; [or
[(D) surplus revenue of another toll project or
system as authorized by Section 228.006;] and
(2) state on their faces any pledge of revenue or taxes
and any security for the bonds under the agreement.
SECTION 5. Section 284.069, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 284.069. TOLLS AND CHARGES. (a) A [If bonds under
this chapter are payable in whole or in part from project revenue,
the] county shall impose tolls and charges for the use of a project
that are, together with other money or revenues available for the
project, including ad valorem tax, sufficient, but not more than
necessary, to:
(1) pay the maintenance and operating expenses of the
project;
(2) pay the principal of, premium of, if any, and
interest on any outstanding [the] bonds when due;
(3) establish a reserve for payment of any outstanding
bond principal, premium, and interest; and
(4) establish an adequate fund for project
depreciation and replacement.
(b) After all outstanding bonds and other obligations
secured by toll revenue and charges of a project have been repaid or
otherwise satisfied, tolls and charges collected for use of the
project may be used only for the maintenance and operation of the
portion of the project for which the tolls and charges were
collected.
SECTION 6. Section 365.041, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 365.041. AMOUNT OF TOLLS. (a) Revenue from tolls and
other charges under Section 365.040 may be sufficient, but not more
than necessary, to:
(1) pay all expenses necessary to maintain and operate
the toll road project;
(2) make necessary payments and otherwise comply with
any permit or franchise for maintenance or operation of the toll
road project;
(3) pay the principal and redemption price of and
interest on all bonds that the district is obligated to pay,
regardless of whether the bonds were issued as revenue bonds;
(4) pay all sinking fund or reserve fund payments
agreed to be made in connection with bonds or other obligations as
they become due and payable to establish a reasonable depreciation
and emergency fund;
(5) comply with any agreement made with the holders of
the district's bonds or other obligations or with another person on
the bondholder's behalf; and
(6) recover a reasonable rate of return on invested
capital.
(b) After all outstanding bonds and other obligations
secured by toll revenue and other charges of a toll road project
have been repaid or otherwise satisfied, tolls and other charges
collected for use of the project may be used only for the
maintenance and operation of the portion of the project for which
the tolls and other charges were collected.
SECTION 7. Section 366.113(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The principal of, interest on, and any redemption
premium on bonds issued by an authority are payable solely from:
(1) the revenue of the turnpike project or system for
which the bonds are issued, including tolls pledged to pay the
bonds;
(2) payments made under an agreement with the
commission or a local governmental entity as provided by Subchapter
G;
(3) money derived from any other source available to
the authority, other than money derived from a turnpike project
that is not part of the same system or money derived from a
different system[, except to the extent that the surplus revenue of
a turnpike project or system has been pledged for that purpose]; and
(4) amounts received under a credit agreement relating
to the turnpike project or system for which the bonds are issued.
SECTION 8. Section 366.173, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
follows:
(b) Tolls must be set so that the aggregate of tolls from an
authority's turnpike project or system, together with other revenue
of the turnpike project or system[:
[(1)] provides revenue sufficient, but not more than
necessary, to:
(1) pay:
(A) the cost of maintaining, repairing, and
operating the turnpike project or system; and
(B) the principal of and interest on any
outstanding [the] bonds issued for the turnpike project or system
as those bonds become due and payable; and
(2) create any required [creates] reserves for a
purpose listed under Subdivision (1).
(b-1) After all outstanding bonds and other obligations
secured by toll revenue of a turnpike project have been repaid or
otherwise satisfied, tolls collected for use of the project may be
used only for the maintenance and operation of the portion of the
project for which the tolls were collected.
SECTION 9. Section 370.113(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The principal of, interest on, and any redemption
premium on bonds issued by an authority are payable solely from:
(1) the revenue of the transportation project for
which the bonds are issued;
(2) payments made under an agreement with the
commission, the department, or other governmental entity as
authorized by this chapter;
(3) money derived from any other source available to
the authority, other than money derived from a transportation
project that is not part of the same system or money derived from a
different system, except to the extent that the surplus revenue of a
transportation project or system, other than a turnpike project,
has been pledged for that purpose;
(4) amounts received under a credit agreement relating
to the transportation project for which the bonds are issued; and
(5) the proceeds of the sale of other bonds.
SECTION 10. Section 370.172, Transportation Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(b) Tolls, fees, fares, or other charges must be set at
rates or amounts so that the aggregate of tolls, fees, fares, or
other charges from an authority's transportation project, together
with other revenue of the transportation project[:
[(1)] provides revenue sufficient, but not more than
necessary, to:
(1) pay:
(A) the cost of maintaining, repairing, and
operating the transportation project;
(B) the principal of and interest on any
outstanding bonds issued for the transportation project as those
bonds become due and payable; and
(C) any other payment obligations of an authority
under a contract or agreement authorized under this chapter; and
(2) create any required [creates] reserves for a
purpose listed under Subdivision (1).
(b-1) After all outstanding bonds and other obligations
secured by toll revenue or fees, fares, or other charges of a
transportation project have been repaid, tolls or fees, fares, or
other charges collected for use of the project may be used only for
the maintenance and operation of the portion of the project for
which the amounts were collected.
SECTION 11. Subchapter B, Chapter 372, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 372.054 to read as follows:
Sec. 372.054. LIMIT ON TOLL COLLECTIONS. (a) A toll
project entity may not set tolls or other charges for use of a
project in an amount that exceeds the amount necessary to:
(1) pay bonds and other obligations secured by the
revenue as required by a bond resolution or trust agreement; and
(2) provide for the maintenance and operation of the
project.
(b) After all outstanding bonds and other obligations
secured by toll revenue and other charges of a transportation
project have been repaid or otherwise satisfied, tolls and other
charges collected for use of the project may be used only for the
maintenance and operation of the portion of the project for which
the tolls or charges were collected.
SECTION 12. The following provisions of the Transportation
Code are repealed:
(1) Section 228.006;
(2) Section 228.109(d);
(3) Section 366.003(9-a);
(4) Section 366.037;
(5) Section 366.071;
(6) Section 366.072; and
(7) Section 366.175.
SECTION 13. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
228.104(a), 228.105, 366.113(a), and 370.113(a), Transportation
Code, apply only to bonds or other obligations issued on or after
the effective date of this Act. Bonds or other obligations issued
before the effective date of this Act are governed by the law in
effect on the date the bonds were issued, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 14. 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.