Sec. 256.008. STATE FUNDING OF FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS. (a) Money in the farm-to-market road fund may be used only to finance the construction, improvement, and maintenance of farm-to-market roads by the department.

(b) The department shall use money made available for the construction, improvement, and maintenance of farm-to-market roads so that not less than $23 million is used each year for those purposes on farm-to-market roads selected under Subsection (c).

(c) The money spent under Subsection (b) shall be used for a system of roads selected by the department after consultation with the commissioners courts of the counties to identify the most needed roads in the counties. The department shall make the selections in a manner intended to ensure equitable and judicious distribution of money and work among the counties.

(d) To be selected, a road must have the following general characteristics:

(1) it may not be a potential addition to the federal aid primary highway system;

(2) it must serve rural areas primarily and must connect farms, ranches, rural homes, sources of natural resources such as oil, mines, timber, and water loading points, schools, churches, and points of public congregation, including community developments and villages;

(3) it must be capable of contributing to the creation of economic values in the areas it serves;

(4) it must preferably serve as a public school bus route or rural free delivery postal route; and

(5) it must be capable of early integration into the improved state road system, and at least one end of the road should connect with an improved road or a road that is soon to be improved that is in the state road system.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.