82R2318 JTS-D
By: Watson S.B. No. 1541
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the inclusion of certain emissions reduction projects
or activities in the cost of a transportation project of a regional
mobility authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 370.004(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The cost of acquisition, construction, improvement,
extension, or expansion of a transportation project under this
chapter includes the cost of:
(1) the actual acquisition, construction,
improvement, extension, or expansion of the transportation
project;
(2) the acquisition of real property, rights-of-way,
property rights, easements, and other interests in real property;
(3) machinery and equipment;
(4) interest payable before, during, and for not more
than three years after acquisition, construction, improvement,
extension, or expansion as provided in the bond proceedings;
(5) traffic estimates, revenue estimates, engineering
and legal services, plans, specifications, surveys, appraisals,
construction cost estimates, and other expenses necessary or
incidental to determining the feasibility of the acquisition,
construction, improvement, extension, or expansion;
(6) necessary or incidental administrative, legal,
and other expenses;
(7) compliance with laws, regulations, and
administrative rulings, including any costs associated with
necessary environmental mitigation measures;
(8) financing;
(9) the assumption of debts, obligations, and
liabilities of an entity relating to a transportation project
transferred to an authority by that entity; [and]
(10) expenses related to the initial operation of the
transportation project; and
(11) a project or activity designed to reduce nitrogen
oxide emissions associated with the transportation project, to the
extent authorized under Section 370.111.
SECTION 2. Section 370.111, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
(j) The cost of a project or activity designed to reduce
nitrogen oxide emissions associated with a transportation project
may be considered a cost of the transportation project for the
purposes of issuing bonds under this section to the extent that the
cost of the emissions reduction project or activity does not exceed
one-quarter of one percent of the total cost of the transportation
project.
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, 2011.