BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1223 By: Patterson, et al. (Hunter, T.) 05-03-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Texas is one of the leading maritime states in the country with three of the top ten ports in the nation. Approximately 178,000 jobs are related to water transportation which comprises 17 percent of the Texas gross state product. Over 15 percent of the total U.S. waterborne tonnage comes from or through this state. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1223 creates the Center for Ports and Waterways to carry out a program of research, education, and technology transfer to support the state's role in the inland waterway and port system. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 88, Education Code, by adding Subchapter G, as follows: SUBCHAPTER G. CENTER FOR PORTS AND WATERWAYS Sec. 88.600. DEFINITIONS. Defines "center," "consortium," and "director." Sec. 88.601. ESTABLISHMENTS. Provides that the Center for Ports and Waterways (center) is established as a component of the Texas Transportation Institute (institute). Requires the operating budget staffing and activities of the center to be approved by the board of regents of the Texas A&M University System. Sec. 88.602. PURPOSE. Sets forth the purpose of the center. Sec. 88.603. PROGRAM. Requires the program of the center to be authorized to include developing, implementing, and researching maritime programs, technology, and studies. Sec. 88.604. DIRECTOR. Requires the center to be supervised by a director and to be operated as a joint program between Lamar University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Galveston Campus, University of Texas-Brownsville, Texas A&M University, Texas Transportation Institute, and the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas-Austin (consortium). Provides that the director of the center is under the supervision of the director of the institute. Sec. 88.605. STEERING COMMITTEE. (a) Provides that the steering committee (committee) is appointed by the director of the institute. Requires the committee to include a representative of each member of the consortium and others. Requires the president or director of each consortium member to recommend an individual to serve as a member of the committee. (b) Provides that the committee is established to advise and make recommendations to the director on the operations and activities of the center. Sec. 88.606. MARITIME/MARINE INDUSTRY COUNCIL. Provides that the Maritime/Marine Industry Council is composed of at least nine persons appointed by the director of the institute. Sets forth the representation of the council. Sec. 88.607. FUNDING. Provides that the center is authorized to receive state appropriated funds. Sec. 88.0608. GIFTS AND GRANTS. Provides that the center shall seek and may receive gifts and grants from federal source foundations, individuals, and other sources for the benefit of the center. Sec. 88.609. CONTRACTS. Authorizes the center to enter into interagency contracts and agreements and to contract with local, state, county, federal, and private sources for work under the center's programs. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to a public notice posted on April 28, 1995, at 4:58 p.m., the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on Wednesday, May 3, 1995, at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment, in Room E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at 5:53 p.m. by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander. The five day posting rule was suspended from the House floor to take up and consider S.C.R 78, in addition to the regular order of business. Pursuant to Rule 4, Section 11 of the House rules, the Chair laid out S.B. 1223. The Chair moved that the Committee report S.B. 1223, without amendments, to the full House with the recommendation that it do pass. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes (5), Nayes (0), Absent (4), Present not voting (0).