(a) Purpose. This section concerns processing and resolution of a claim under Transportation Code, §201.112 that arises under a comprehensive development agreement (CDA) or design-build contract.     
      (b) Applicability.      
        (1) The executive director may enter into a CDA or design-build contract containing a claim procedure and provisions authorized by this section. When a claim arises under a CDA or design-build contract containing a claim procedure authorized by this section, the requirements of this section apply, §9.2 of this subchapter (relating to Contract Claim Procedure) does not apply, and the parties shall follow the claim procedure contained in the CDA or design-build contract and shall be bound by the outcome of the claim procedure. If a CDA or design-build contract does not contain a claim procedure authorized by this section, either by express reference to this section or by inclusion of provisions required or permitted by this section, then a claim under the agreement shall be processed and resolved under §9.2 of this subchapter.       
        (2) The claim procedure and provisions authorized by this section may be applied to claims that arise under the CDA or design-build contract, related agreements that collectively constitute a CDA or design-build contract, or other agreements entered into with or for the benefit of the department in connection with the CDA or design-build contract. A CDA or design-build contract shall identify the related agreements and any other agreements to which the claim procedure and provisions apply.       
        (3) This section and §9.2 of this subchapter do not affect or impede the department's or the developer's or design-build contractor's rights to seek judicial relief in connection with the following types of actions or proceedings, and the claim procedures and provisions in this section or in §9.2 of this subchapter do not apply to such actions:                  (A) equitable relief that the department is permitted to seek to the extent allowed by law;                   (B) mandamus action that a developer or design-build contractor is permitted to bring against the department or the executive director under Government Code, §22.002(c);                   (C) mandamus relief sought by a developer under Transportation Code, §223.208(e) (relating to termination compensation and related security obligations); or                   (D) other matters or disputes expressly excluded from the dispute resolution procedures authorized by this section, as specified in the CDA or design-build contract or other related agreement between the department and the developer or design-build contractor that is part of the CDA or design-build contract.         
      (c) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.      
        (1) Claim--A claim for compensation, or other dispute, disagreement, or controversy concerning respective rights, obligations, and remedies under the CDA or design-build contract, or under related agreements that collectively constitute a CDA or design-build contract or other agreements entered into with or for the benefit of the department in connection with the CDA or design-build contract, including any alleged breach or failure to perform.       
        (2) Comprehensive development agreement (CDA)--An agreement with a developer that, at a minimum, provides for the design and construction, reconstruction, extension, expansion, or improvement of a project described in Transportation Code, §223.201(a), and may also provide for the financing, acquisition, maintenance, or operation of such a project. A CDA is also authorized under Transportation Code, §91.054 (rail facilities). A CDA includes related agreements that collectively constitute a CDA or other agreements entered into with or for the benefit of the department in connection with the CDA.       
        (3) Department--The Texas Department of Transportation.       
        (4) Design-build contract--An agreement with a design-build contractor for a highway project with estimated total project costs of $500 million or more that includes both design and construction services for the construction, expansion, extension, related capital maintenance, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of the highway project.       
        (5) Design-build contractor--A partnership, corporation, or other legal entity or team that enters into a design-build contract with the department.       
        (6) Developer--The private entity or entities that enter into a CDA with the department.       
        (7) Disputes board--A group of one or more individuals appointed under the terms of a CDA or design-build contract to fairly and impartially consider and decide a claim between the department and a developer or design-build contractor.       
        (8) Disputes board error--One or more of the following actions:                  (A) a disputes board acted beyond the limits of its authority established under subsection (b)(3) of this section;                   (B) a disputes board failed, in any material respect, to properly follow or apply the procedure for handling, hearing and deciding a claim established under the CDA or design-build contract and the failure prejudiced the rights of a party;                   (C) a disputes board decision was procured by, or there was evident partiality by a disputes board member due to a conflict of interest (which may be defined in the CDA or design-build contract), misconduct (which may be defined in the CDA or design-build contract), corruption, or fraud; or                   (D) any other error that the parties agree may be the subject of a contested case hearing, as set out in the CDA or design-build contract.         
        (9) Executive director--The executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation.       
        (10) Party--The department, or a developer or design-build contractor who has entered into a CDA or design-build contract with the department. The department and the developer or design-build contractor are together referred to as the "parties."       
        (11) SOAH--State Office of Administrative Hearings.       
      (d) Mandatory requirements. A CDA or design-build contract that authorizes the use of a claim procedure authorized by this section shall include (or incorporate by reference) provisions substantially consistent with the provisions in this subsection, but such provisions need not apply to claims excluded from the claim procedure under subsection (b)(3) of this section.      
        (1) A claim under the CDA or design-build contract that is not resolved by the informal dispute resolution process set forth in the CDA or design-build contract shall be referred to a disputes board for rendering of a disputes board decision on the claim.       
        (2) The processing of a claim shall include a mandatory informal dispute resolution process, such as mediation, and a mandatory dispute resolution procedure using a disputes board.       
        (3) The party making a claim shall include in its notice of the claim a certification by an authorized or designated representative to the effect that:                  (A) the claim is made in good faith;                   (B) to the current knowledge of the party, except as to matters stated in the notice of claim as being unknown or subject to discovery, the supporting data is reasonably believed by the party to be accurate and complete, and the description of the claim contained in the certification accurately reflects the amount of money or other right, remedy, or relief to which the party asserting the claim reasonably believes it is entitled; and                   (C) the representative is duly authorized to execute and deliver the certificate on behalf of the party.         
        (4) The certification required under paragraph (3) of this subsection, if defective, shall not deprive a disputes board of jurisdiction over the claim. Prior to the entry by the disputes board of a final decision on the claim, the disputes board shall require a defective certification to be corrected.       
      (e) Permissive requirements. A CDA or design-build contract that provides for a claim procedure authorized by this section may include (or incorporate by reference) any or all of the provisions in this subsection, or provisions substantially consistent with them, and other terms and conditions regarding claim resolution that are not contrary to the mandatory requirements of this section.      
        (1) The executive director shall adopt the decision of a disputes board as a ministerial act, subject to a party's right to request a contested case hearing in accordance with the terms of the CDA or design-build contract as to whether disputes board error occurred.       
        (2) A decision by a disputes board, upon completion of the procedure required in Transportation Code, §201.112, this section, and in the CDA or design-build contract, is final, conclusive, binding upon, and enforceable against the parties, subject to any appeals allowed by the CDA or design-build contract or this section.       
        (3) A disputes board, upon issuing a decision on a claim, is authorized to direct that an award be paid from the proceeds of any trust or other pool of project funds that the CDA or design-build contract provides shall be available for payment of such claims.       
        (4) The executive director's discretion or actions in connection with the resolution of a claim are limited or may be purely ministerial in certain circumstances, including:                  (A) adoption of the disputes board's decision absent disputes board error;                   (B) referral of a disputes board decision to SOAH to determine whether disputes board error occurred; and                   (C) issuance of a final order based on the SOAH administrative law judge's proposal for decision.         
        (5) Certain claims may be categorized and treated by the parties as expedited claims, and informal resolution procedures shall be expedited for such claims.       
        (6) Certain claims may be categorized and treated by the parties as small claims, and informal resolution procedures shall be expedited for such claims.       
        (7) The parties may execute a related disputes board agreement, or similar agreement, which shall be part of the CDA or design-build contract and which may govern all aspects of the creation of and procedures to be followed by a disputes board.       
        (8) The evidence presented to a SOAH administrative law judge in a hearing regarding a claim, and to the Travis County District Court in any appeal, may include: the disputes board's written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decision; any written dissenting findings, recommendation, or opinions of a disputes board member; all submissions to the disputes board by the parties; and an independent engineer's written evaluations, opinions, findings, reports, recommendations, objections, decisions, certifications, or other determinations, if any, delivered to the parties pursuant to the CDA or design-build contract and related to the claim under consideration.       
        (9) Certain decisions, orders, or determinations of the executive director may be deemed to have been issued as of a certain date, or after a prescribed number of days, and setting out the parameters of the deemed decision, order, or determination.       
        (10) The parties are authorized and required to comply with all or certain categories of interim orders of the disputes board, including discovery and procedural orders.       
        (11) Except as agreed to by the parties in writing, a disputes board shall have no power to alter or modify any terms or provisions of the CDA or design-build contract, or to render any award that, by its terms or effects, would alter or modify any term or provision of the CDA or design-build contract. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, a disputes board decision that contains error in interpretation or application of a term or provision of the CDA or design-build contract but does not otherwise purport to alter or modify terms or provisions of the CDA or design-build contract may not be appealed on grounds of such error; and such error does not deprive the disputes board of power or authority over the claim.       
        (12) A developer's claim for termination compensation, or to enforce the department's security obligations that secure payment of termination compensation, is not to be resolved under any dispute resolution procedure in the CDA. Rather, a developer may exercise its rights under Transportation Code, §223.208(e) (relating to Terms of Private Participation) by seeking mandamus against the department.       
        (13) At all times during the processing of a contract claim, the developer or design-build contractor and its subcontractors shall continue with the performance of the work and their obligations, including any disputed work or obligations, diligently and without delay, in accordance with the CDA or design-build contract, except to the extent enjoined by order of a court or otherwise ordered or approved by the department in its sole discretion.       
      (f) Pass-through claim. A CDA or design-build contract may provide that a developer or design-build contractor who is a party to a CDA or design-build contract with the department may make a claim on behalf of a subcontractor. In order to make such a claim the developer or design-build contractor must be liable to the subcontractor on the claim.     
      (g) Mandatory requirements concerning disputes board. A CDA or design-build contract that authorizes the use of a disputes board shall include (or incorporate by reference) provisions substantially consistent with the provisions in this subsection.             Cont'd...