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).