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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a feasibility study on the colocation of federal and |
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state motor vehicle inspection facilities at ports of entry. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of |
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Transportation. |
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(2) "Institute" means the Texas A&M Transportation |
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Institute. |
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(3) "Port of entry" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 201.710, Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 2. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON COLOCATED INSPECTION PORTS. |
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(a) The institute, in consultation with the department and the |
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Department of Public Safety, shall conduct a feasibility study on |
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erecting and maintaining a colocated federal and state inspection |
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facility at each port of entry in this state for the inspection of |
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motor vehicles for compliance with federal and state commercial |
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motor vehicle regulations. The study must include: |
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(1) a summary of: |
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(A) past efforts by the Department of Public |
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Safety and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to |
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maintain colocated federal and state inspection facilities at each |
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port of entry; |
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(B) any current efforts to colocate or separate |
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federal and state inspection facilities at ports of entry in other |
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states; |
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(C) current wait times at inspection facilities |
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at each port of entry; |
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(D) current priorities and expectations of the |
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department and the Department of Public Safety regarding motor |
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vehicle inspections at ports of entry; |
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(E) the department's and Department of Public |
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Safety's perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of |
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colocated federal and state inspection facilities; and |
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(F) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety |
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Administration's perspective on the advantages and disadvantages |
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of colocated federal and state inspection facilities, as solicited |
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by the institute under Subsection (b) of this section; |
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(2) potential scenarios for the colocation of federal |
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and state inspection facilities at each port of entry in this state |
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and an analysis of each scenario's advantages and disadvantages; |
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(3) an analysis of potential economic benefits of |
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colocating federal and state inspection facilities at each port of |
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entry; and |
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(4) an analysis of the potential effects of colocating |
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federal and state inspection facilities at each point of entry on |
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wait times at inspection facilities. |
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(b) In conducting the study under this section, the |
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institute shall solicit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety |
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Administration's perspective on the advantages and disadvantages |
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of colocated federal and state inspection facilities. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. (a) Before the study under Section 2 of |
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this Act is completed, the institute shall contact the Federal |
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Motor Carrier Safety Administration to arrange receipt of the |
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report required by this subsection. Not later than December 1, |
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2022, the institute shall report the results of the study conducted |
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under Section 2 of this Act and any recommendations to the Federal |
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Motor Carrier Safety Administration in the manner and format |
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requested by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2022, the institute shall |
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submit to the members of the legislature a report on the results of |
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the study conducted under Section 2 of this Act and any |
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recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires January 1, |
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2023. |
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SECTION 5. IMPLEMENTATION. The Texas A&M Transportation |
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Institute is required to implement this Act only if the legislature |
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appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the |
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legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute may, but is not |
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required to, implement this Act using other appropriations |
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available for the purpose. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |