II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1446 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 28, 2011 Mr. Coburn (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Lee, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Paul, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Coats, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Burr, Mr. Isakson, and Mr. Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To free States to spend gas taxes on their transportation priorities.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the State Transportation Flexibility Act.
2.
Direct Federal-aid highway program
(a)
In general
Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 149 the following:
150.
Direct Federal-aid highway program
(a)
Election by State not To participate
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a State may elect not to participate in any Federal program relating to highways, including a Federal highway program under the SAFETEA–LU (Public Law 109–59; 119 Stat. 1144), this title, or title 49. (b)
Direct Federal-Aid highway program
(1)
In general
Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Secretary shall carry out a direct Federal-aid highway program in accordance with the requirements of this section under which the legislature of a State may elect, not fewer than 90 days before the beginning of a fiscal year— (A)to waive the right of the State to receive amounts apportioned or allocated to the State under the Federal-aid highway program for the fiscal year to which the election relates; and (B)to receive an amount for that fiscal year that is determined in accordance with subsection (e) for that fiscal year. (2)
Effect
On making an election under paragraph (1), a State— (A)assumes all Federal obligations relating to each program that is the subject of the election; and (B)shall fulfill those obligations using the amounts transferred to the State under subsection (e). (c)
State responsibility
(1)
In general
The Governor of a State making an election under subsection (b) shall— (A)agree to maintain the Interstate System in accordance with the current Interstate System program; (B)submit a plan to the Secretary describing— (i)the purposes, projects, and uses to which amounts received under the program will be put; and (ii)which programmatic requirements of this title the State elects to continue; (C)agree to obligate or expend amounts received under the direct Federal-aid highway program exclusively for projects that would be eligible for funding under section 133(b) if the State was not participating in the program; and (D)agree to report annually to the Secretary on the use of amounts received under the direct Federal-aid highway program and to make the report available to the public in an easily accessible format. (2)
No Federal limitation on use of funds
Except as provided in paragraph (1), the expenditure or obligation of funds received by a State under the direct Federal-aid highway program shall not be subject to any Federal regulation under this title (except for this section), title 49, or any other Federal law. (3)
Election irrevocable
An election under subsection (b) shall be irrevocable during the applicable fiscal year. (d)
Effect on preexisting commitments
The making of an election under subsection (b) shall not affect any responsibility or commitment of the State under this title for any fiscal year with respect to— (1)a project or program funded under this title (other than under this section); or (2)any project or program funded under this title in any fiscal year for which an election under subsection (b) is not in effect. (e)
Transfers
(1)
In general
The amount to be transferred to a State under the direct Federal-aid highway program for a fiscal year shall be the portion of the taxes appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund under section 9503 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other than for the Mass Transit Account, for that fiscal year that is attributable to highway users in that State during that fiscal year, reduced by a pro rata share withheld by the Secretary to fund contract authority for programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2)
Transfers under program
(A)
In general
Transfers under the program— (i)shall be made at the same time as deposits to the Highway Trust Fund are made by the Secretary of the Treasury; and (ii)shall be made on the basis of estimates by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, based on the most recent data available, and proper adjustments shall be made in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of, or less than, the amounts required to be transferred. (B)
Limitation
An adjustment under subparagraph (A)(ii) to any transfer may not exceed 5 percent of the transferred amount to which the adjustment relates. If the adjustment required under subparagraph (A)(ii) exceeds that percentage, the excess shall be taken into account in making subsequent adjustments under subparagraph (A)(ii). (f)
Application with other authority
Any contract authority under this chapter (and any obligation limitation) authorized for a State for a fiscal year for which an election by that State is in effect under subsection (b)— (1)shall be rescinded or canceled; and (2)shall not be reallocated or distributed to any other State under the Federal-aid highway program. (g)
Maintenance of effort
(1)
In general
Not later than 30 days after the date on which an amount is distributed to a State or State agency under the State Highway Flexibility Act or an amendment made by that Act, the Governor of the State shall certify to the Secretary that the State will maintain the effort of the State with regard to State funding for the types of projects that are funded by the amounts. (2)
Amounts
As part of the certification, the Governor shall submit to the Secretary a statement identifying the amount of funds the State plans to expend from State sources during the covered period, for the types of projects that are funded by the amounts. (h)
Treatment of general revenues
For purposes of this section, any general revenue funds appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund shall be transferred to a State under the program in the manner described in subsection (e)(1).
. (b)
Conforming amendment
The analysis for title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 149 the following: 150. Direct Federal-aid highway program .
3.
Alternative funding of public transportation programs
(a)
In general
Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
5341.
Alternative funding of public transportation programs
(a)
Definitions
In this section— (1)
Alternative funding program
The term alternative funding program means the program established under subsection (c). (2)
Covered programs
The term covered programs means the programs authorized under— (A)sections 5305, 5307, 5308, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5316, 5317, 5320, 5335, 5339, and 5340; and (B)section 3038 of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 5310 note). (b)
Election by State not To participate
(1)
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a State may elect not to participate in all Federal programs relating to public transportation funded under the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund, including the Federal public transportation programs under the SAFETEA–LU (Public Law 109–59; 119 Stat. 1144), title 23, or this title. (2)
Effect
On making an election under paragraph (1), a State— (A)assumes all Federal obligations relating to each program that is the subject of the election; and (B)shall fulfill those obligations using the amounts transferred to the State under subsection (e). (c)
Public transportation program
(1)
Program established
Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Secretary shall carry out an alternative funding program under which the legislature of a State may elect, not fewer than 90 days before the beginning of a fiscal year— (A)to waive the right of the State to receive amounts apportioned or allocated to the State under the covered programs for the fiscal year to which the election relates; and (B)to receive an amount for that fiscal year that is determined in accordance with subsection (e). (2)
Program requirements
(A)
In general
The Governor of a State that participates in the alternative funding program shall— (i)submit a plan to the Secretary describing— (I)the purposes, projects, and uses to which amounts received under the alternative funding program will be put; and (II)which programmatic requirements of this title the State elects to continue; (ii)agree to obligate or expend amounts received under the alternative funding program exclusively for projects that would be eligible for funding under the covered programs if the State was not participating in the alternative funding program; and (iii)submit to the Secretary an annual report on the use of amounts received under the alternative funding program, and to make the report available to the public in an easily accessible format. (B)
No Federal limitation on use of funds
Except as provided in subparagraph (A), the expenditure or obligation of funds received by a State under the alternative funding program shall not be subject to the provisions of this title (except for this section), title 23, or any other Federal law. (3)
Election irrevocable
An election under paragraph (1) shall be irrevocable during the applicable fiscal year. (d)
Effect on preexisting commitments
Participation in the alternative funding program shall not affect any responsibility or commitment of the State under this title for any fiscal year with respect to— (1)a project or program funded under this title (other than under this section); or (2)any project or program funded under this title in any fiscal year for which the State elects not to participate in the alternative funding program. (e)
Transfers
(1)
In general
The amount to be transferred to a State under the alternative funding program for a fiscal year shall be the portion of the taxes transferred to the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund under section 9503(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for that fiscal year, that is attributable to highway users in that State during that fiscal year. (2)
Transfers
(A)
In general
Transfers under the program— (i)shall be made at the same time as transfers to the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund are made by the Secretary of the Treasury; and (ii)shall be made on the basis of estimates by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, based on the most recent data available, and proper adjustments shall be made in amounts subsequently transferred, to the extent prior estimates were in excess of, or less than, the amounts required to be transferred. (B)
Limitation
An adjustment under subparagraph (A)(ii) to any transfer may not exceed 5 percent of the transferred amount to which the adjustment relates. If the adjustment required under subparagraph (A)(ii) exceeds that percentage, the excess shall be taken into account in making subsequent adjustments under subparagraph (A)(ii). (f)
Contract authority
There shall be rescinded or canceled any contract authority under this chapter (and any obligation limitation) authorized for a State for a fiscal year for which the State elects to participate in the alternative funding program. (g)
Maintenance of effort
(1)
In general
Not later than 30 days after the date on which an amount is distributed to a State or State agency under the State Highway Flexibility Act or an amendment made by that Act, the Governor of the State shall certify to the Secretary that the State will maintain the effort of the State with regard to State funding for the types of projects that are funded by the amounts. (2)
Amounts
The certification under paragraph (1) shall include a statement identifying the amount of funds the State plans to expend from State sources for projects funded under the alternative funding program, during the fiscal year for which the State elects to participate in the alternative funding program. (h)
Treatment of general revenues
For purposes of this section, any general revenue funds appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund shall be transferred to a State under the program in the manner described in subsection (e).
. (b)
Conforming amendment
The analysis for title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5340 the following: 5341. Alternative funding of public transportation programs .