The department must establish a state airport in Central Texas, follow location rules, limit funding sources, and later contract out long-term management and maintenance.
Sec. 21.069. STATE AIRPORT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. (a) The department shall establish a state airport in Central Texas that is open to the general public. (b) In determining an appropriate location for the airport, the department shall consider: (1) the convenience, comfort, and accommodation of air traffic flying into and departing from the Central Texas region, including persons traveling for business and commercial reasons, government officials, and tourists; and (2) the safe operation of aircraft flying into and departing from the Central Texas region. (c) In determining an appropriate location for the airport, the department may not consider: (1) any property in a municipality without the approval of the governing body of the municipality; (2) any property outside of a municipality without the approval of the commissioners court of the county in which the property is located; or (3) the property in Austin, Texas, identified as Robert Mueller Airport. (d) The commission may acquire by the exercise of eminent domain property that the commission considers necessary to enable the department to meet its responsibilities under this section. (e) The department may utilize only federal matching funds, federal grants, in-kind contributions, private sector funds, nonprofit grants, and local government funding for the establishment of this facility. (f) The department shall have all the powers necessary or appropriate to implement this section, including all the powers granted to a local government under Chapters 22, 23, and 25. (g) Upon completion of the construction of the airport, the department shall contract with a private entity or a county or municipality for the long-term management, operation, and maintenance of the facility. Such contract shall comply with all applicable Federal Aviation Agency regulations relating to the management, operation, and maintenance of an airport. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1118, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 312), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.