| 4 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 7 | | relating to the adoption of a state scenic byways program. |
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| 6 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 7 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 391, Transportation Code, |
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| 8 | 10 | | is amended by adding Section 391.256 to read as follows: |
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| 9 | 11 | | Sec. 391.256. SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM. (a) The department |
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| 10 | 12 | | shall plan, design, and establish a program for designating |
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| 11 | 13 | | highways as State Scenic Byways. |
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| 12 | 14 | | (b) The program must include a process by which the |
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| 13 | 15 | | department: |
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| 14 | 16 | | (1) receives proposals from political subdivisions or |
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| 15 | 17 | | other community groups approved by the department for funding |
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| 16 | 18 | | projects in accordance with 23 U.S.C. Section 162; |
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| 17 | 19 | | (2) applies for grants under 23 U.S.C. Section 162 for |
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| 18 | 20 | | the projects; and |
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| 19 | 21 | | (3) allows an applicant who consents to pay for the |
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| 20 | 22 | | costs of the projects that are not covered by grants made under 23 |
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| 21 | 23 | | U.S.C. Section 162. |
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| 22 | 24 | | (c) A highway must be designated as a State Scenic Byway |
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| 23 | 25 | | under the program established by this section before the department |
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| 24 | 26 | | applies for a grant under Subsection (b)(2) for a project related to |
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| 25 | 27 | | the highway. |
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| 26 | 28 | | (d) The department may use money from the state highway fund |
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| 27 | 29 | | for a project that receives a grant made under 23 U.S.C. Section 162 |
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| 28 | 30 | | only for the purpose of satisfying matching funds requirements for |
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| 29 | 31 | | the grant. |
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| 30 | 32 | | (e) The department may only designate a highway described by |
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| 31 | 33 | | Section 391.252 as a State Scenic Byway. |
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| 32 | 34 | | (f) The commission by rule shall prohibit outdoor |
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| 33 | 35 | | advertising in a manner consistent with 23 U.S.C. Section 131(s) on |
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| 34 | 36 | | a State Scenic Byway designated under this section. |
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| 35 | 37 | | SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas |
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| 36 | 38 | | Department of Transportation shall establish the program required |
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| 37 | 39 | | by Section 391.256, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, and |
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| 38 | 40 | | the Texas Transportation Commission shall adopt rules as necessary |
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| 39 | 41 | | to implement that section. |
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| 40 | 42 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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| 41 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 42 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 43 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 941 passed the Senate on |
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| 44 | | - | March 30, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. |
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| 45 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 46 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 47 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 941 passed the House on |
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| 48 | | - | May 11, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 113, Nays 30, two |
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| 49 | | - | present not voting. |
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| 50 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 51 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 52 | | - | Approved: |
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| 53 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 54 | | - | Date |
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| 55 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 56 | | - | Governor |
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