CHAPTER 462. SOUTHERN HIGH-SPEED RAIL COMPACT

TRANSPORTATION CODE

TITLE 6. ROADWAYS

SUBTITLE K. MASS TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER 462. SOUTHERN HIGH-SPEED RAIL COMPACT

Sec. 462.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission.

(2) "Party state" means a state that is a party to the compact

under this chapter.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

322, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 462.002. EXECUTION AND TEXT OF COMPACT. The governor, on

behalf of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact

in substantially the following form with the states of

Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama, and the legislature hereby

signifies in advance its approval and ratification of such

compact, as follows:

SOUTHERN HIGH-SPEED RAIL COMPACT

ARTICLE I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this compact is to implement Pub. L. No. 97-213,

including the conduct of a study of the feasibility of rapid rail

transit service between the states of Mississippi, Louisiana,

Alabama, and Texas and to establish a joint interstate commission

to assist in this effort.

ARTICLE II. EFFECTIVE DATE; DURATION

(a) This compact shall become effective immediately as to the

states ratifying it whenever the states of Mississippi,

Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas have ratified it and Congress has

given consent to it. Any state not mentioned in this article

that is contiguous with any party state may become a party to

this compact, subject to the approval of the legislature of each

party state.

(b) This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on

each party state until the legislature or governor of a party

state takes action to withdraw from the compact. However, any

withdrawal from the compact is not effective until six months

after the date of the action taken by the legislature or governor

to withdraw. Notice of withdrawal shall be given to the other

party states by the secretary of state of the withdrawing party

state.

ARTICLE III. SOUTHERN HIGH-SPEED RAIL COMMISSION; APPOINTMENT;

MEMBERSHIP

(a) The party states through this compact establish and create a

joint agency known as the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission.

(b) The membership of the commission consists of:

(1) the governor of each party state or that governor's

designee;

(2) one representative each from:

(A) the Mississippi Energy and Transportation Board, or its

successor;

(B) the Office of Aviation and Public Transportation of the

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, or its

successor;

(C) the Alabama Department of Energy, or its successor; and

(D) the Texas Department of Transportation; and

(3) five citizens from each party state, appointed by the

governor of the party state.

(c) The citizens appointed from the State of Texas must reside

in a federally designated high-speed rail corridor.

(d) An appointed member of the commission serves a four-year

term.

(e) A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for the

unexpired portion of the term by the governor of the party state

that appointed the member whose position becomes vacant.

(f) A member is not entitled to compensation for service on the

commission but is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable

expenses the member incurs in performing commission duties.

ARTICLE IV. SOUTHERN HIGH-SPEED RAIL COMMISSION; POWERS AND

DUTIES

(a) The commission shall hold regular quarterly meetings and

such special meetings as its business may require.

(b) The members of the commission shall choose a chairman and

vice chairman. The chairmanship shall rotate annually among the

party states in the order of ratification of the compact.

(c) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the

transaction of its business and keep a record of all business.

(d) The commission shall study the feasibility of providing

interstate rapid rail transit service between the party states.

To facilitate this duty, the commission may:

(1) hold hearings;

(2) conduct studies and surveys of the problems, benefits, and

other matters associated with the provision of interstate rapid

rail transit service;

(3) make reports on an activity conducted under Subdivision (2);

(4) acquire by gift, grant, or otherwise from local, state,

federal, or private sources money or property to be used for the

business of the commission;

(5) hold and dispose of money or property acquired under

Subdivision (4);

(6) cooperate with public or private groups having an interest

in interstate rapid rail transit service;

(7) adopt and implement plans and policies for emphasizing the

purpose of this compact before the Congress of the United States

and other appropriate officers and agencies of the United States;

and

(8) exercise any other powers as may be appropriate to

accomplish the purposes of this compact.

ARTICLE V. FUNDING

Each party state agrees that its legislature may in its

discretion make available and pay to the commission funds for the

establishment and operation of the commission. The contribution

of each party state shall be in equal amounts, if possible.

Nothing in this article shall be construed as binding the

legislature of any party state to make an appropriation of a

particular amount at any time.

ARTICLE VI. CONFLICT OF LAWS

Nothing in this compact shall be construed to conflict with any

existing statute, repeal or prevent legislation, or affect any

existing or future cooperative agreement or relationship between

any federal agency and a party state.

ARTICLE VII. GRANT OF AUTHORITY

There is hereby granted to the governor, to the members of the

commission for Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas, and to

the compact administrator all the powers provided for in the

compact. All officers of the State of Texas are authorized and

directed to perform any actions in their respective jurisdictions

that are necessary to carrying out the purpose of the compact.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

322, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.