Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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BORDER AFFAIRS
77 th Texas Legislature
Authorizes the office of the governor to determine the amount of bonds and the times at which bonds may
be issued.
Requires the Texas Transportation Commission to establish a program to administer the use of the
proceeds of the bonds and notes, to be administered by TxDOT in cooperation with the office of the
governor, the secretary of state, and the Texas A&M University Center for Housing and Urban
Development.
Border Emissions Reduction Program - S.B. 1561
by Senator Shapleigh
House Sponsor: Representative Haggerty
Authorizes the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) for certain emissions control
or permit programs, as allowed under federal law, to:
• authorize the use of emissions reductions achieved outside the United States to satisfy applicable
emissions reduction requirements, if TNRCC finds that the foreign emissions reductions are
surplus to requirements imposed by applicable law and are appropriately quantifiable and
enforceable; and
• allow the use of reductions in emissions of one air contaminant to satisfy applicable requirements
for emission reductions of another air contaminant if TNRCC finds that the air contaminant
emissions reductions to be substituted are of equal or greater significance to the overall air quality
of the affected area than reductions in emissions of the other air contaminant.
Provides that TNRRC may authorize or allow such substitutions provisions only if:
• reductions in emissions of one air contaminant for which the area has been designated as
nonattainment are substituted for reductions in emissions of another air contaminant for which the
area has been designated as nonattainment; and
• TNRRC finds that the substitution will clearly result in greater health benefits for the community as
a whole than would reductions in emissions at the original facility.
Colonias and General Obligation Bonds in Texas-Mexico Border Counties - S.J.R. 37
by Senator Lucio, et al.
House Sponsor: Representative Flores
Authorizes the Texas Public Finance Authority to issue general obligation bonds or notes of the State of
Texas in an aggregate amount not to exceed $175 million and to enter into related credit agreements.
Authorizes proceeds from the sale of bonds and notes to be used only to provide financial assistance to
counties for projects to provide access roads to connect border colonias with public roads.
Senate Research Center 26