Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1570 Compare Versions

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1	1	By: Carona S.B. No. 1570
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to the facilitation, analysis, and implementation of
7	7	high-speed passenger rail in this state.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 91.001, Transportation Code, is amended
10	10	by adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:
11	11	(3-a) "High-speed rail" means passenger rail service
12	12	capable of operating at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour.
13	13	SECTION 2. Chapter 91, Transportation Code, is amended by
14	14	adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
15	15	SUBCHAPTER G. HIGH-SPEED RAIL FACILITATION AND ANALYSIS
16	16	Sec. 91.121. TEXAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORPORATION. (a) The
17	17	commission shall create a corporation under Subchapter B, Chapter
18	18	431, for purposes of this subchapter.
19	19	(b) The corporation is not subject to the limitation
20	20	provided by Section 431.072.
21	21	(c) The corporation must have a board of seven members, of
22	22	whom:
23	23	(1) three are appointed by the commission; and
24	24	(2) four are appointed by the commission from a list of
25	25	candidates submitted by the South Central High Speed Rail and
26	26	Transportation Authority, Incorporated, a local government
27	27	corporation organized under Subchapter D, Chapter 431.
28	28	Sec. 91.122. DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEM. Subject to the
29	29	commission's oversight and control under Chapter 431, the
30	30	commission may direct the corporation created under Section 91.121
31	31	to:
32	32	(1) plan and develop a high-speed rail facility under
33	33	the authority in this chapter;
34	34	(2) solicit federal funding to be allocated to the
35	35	department for the purposes of this subchapter;
36	36	(3) coordinate with federal planners and
37	37	representatives from adjacent states for the interconnectivity of
38	38	high-speed rail systems in this state with systems developed in
39	39	federally designated high-speed rail corridors in other states;
40	40	(4) represent and negotiate on behalf of this state
41	41	for the interconnectivity of high-speed rail with existing and
42	42	planned transportation systems, including airports, seaports,
43	43	transit systems, commuter rail systems, and highways; and
44	44	(5) coordinate with federal transportation planners
45	45	and officials at the United States Department of Defense or its
46	46	successor agency regarding issues related to the provision of
47	47	connectivity to military installations in this state.
48	48	Sec. 91.123. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. A high-speed rail system
49	49	developed under this subchapter must:
50	50	(1) enhance connectivity to this state's largest
51	51	airports;
52	52	(2) enhance connectivity for and ease of passenger
53	53	transport to and from military installations located in this state;
54	54	and
55	55	(3) be developed in collaboration with high-speed rail
56	56	projects in other areas of the United States to ensure
57	57	interconnectivity with other federally designated high-speed rail
58	58	corridors.
59	59	Sec. 91.124. REPORTS. The department annually shall submit
60	60	a report regarding the activities of the department and the
61	61	corporation under this subchapter to:
62	62	(1) the governor;
63	63	(2) the lieutenant governor;
64	64	(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; and
65	65	(4) the standing committee of each house of the
66	66	legislature that has primary jurisdiction over rail transportation
67	67	issues.
68	68	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
69	69	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
70	70	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
71	71	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
72	72	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.