By Hunter of Nueces H.B. No. 2219
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to establishing the Center for Ports and Waterways.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-5 Subchapter G to read as follows:
1-6 SUBCHAPTER G. CENTER FOR PORTS AND WATERWAYS
1-7 Sec. 88.600. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-8 (1) "Center" means Center for Ports and Waterways.
1-9 (2) "Consortium" means Lamar University, Texas A&M
1-10 University - Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University - Galveston
1-11 Campus, University of Texas - Brownsville, Texas A&M University,
1-12 Texas Transportation Institute, and the Center for Transportation
1-13 Research at the University of Texas - Austin.
1-14 (3) "Director" means Director of the Center for Ports
1-15 and Waterways.
1-16 Sec. 88.601. ESTABLISHMENT. The Center for Ports and
1-17 Waterways is established as a component of the Texas Transportation
1-18 Institute, a component of the Texas A&M University System. The
1-19 operating budget, staffing and activities of the Center shall be
1-20 approved by the board of regents of The Texas A&M University
1-21 System.
1-22 Sec. 88.602. PURPOSE. The Center shall carry out a program
1-23 of research, education and technology transfer to support the
2-1 State's role in the inland waterway and port system in Texas.
2-2 Sec. 88.603. PROGRAM. The program of the center shall be
2-3 authorized to include:
2-4 (1) the development and testing of new marine/maritime
2-5 technologies and supporting their implementation;
2-6 (2) aiding transportation planners to better prepare
2-7 for future inland and coastal waterway transportation needs;
2-8 (3) studying complex policy issues and assisting the
2-9 state in defining roles of marine and intermodal transportation for
2-10 sustainable development;
2-11 (4) conducting research and studies that foster
2-12 productivity and competitiveness in the maritime/marine industry;
2-13 (5) fostering public awareness of the importance of
2-14 ports and waterways to the economy of Texas;
2-15 (6) transferring knowledge and technology to industry,
2-16 state and local governments and the public;
2-17 (7) establishing programs and partnerships with public
2-18 or private entities to develop and implement new policies,
2-19 technology, strategies, relationships and sources of funding;
2-20 (8) studying environmental conflicts, complements and
2-21 risks associated with water transportation; and
2-22 (9) other services consistent with the purpose of the
2-23 program.
2-24 Sec. 88.604. DIRECTOR. The Center is under the supervision
2-25 and direction of the Director and shall be operated and managed as
3-1 a joint program between the consortium. The Director of the Center
3-2 is under the supervision and direction of the Director of the Texas
3-3 Transportation Institute.
3-4 Sec. 88.605. STEERING COMMITTEE. (a) The steering
3-5 committee is appointed by the Director of the Texas Transportation
3-6 Institute and shall include a representative of each member of the
3-7 consortium and others. The President or the Director of each
3-8 consortium member shall recommend an individual to serve as a
3-9 member of the steering committee.
3-10 (b) The steering committee is established to advise and make
3-11 recommendations to the Director on the operations and activities of
3-12 the Center.
3-13 Sec. 88.606. MARITIME/MARINE INDUSTRY COUNCIL. The
3-14 Maritime/Marine Industry Council is composed of at least nine
3-15 persons appointed by the Director of the Texas Transportation
3-16 Institute with at least the following representation:
3-17 (1) One member shall be the President of the Texas
3-18 Waterway Operators, or the President's designated representative.
3-19 (2) One member shall be the President of the Texas
3-20 Ports Association, or the President's designated representative.
3-21 (3) Four members shall be representatives from Texas
3-22 ports to be recommended by the membership of the Texas Ports
3-23 Association.
3-24 (4) Three members shall be representatives from the
3-25 barge industry.
4-1 (5) The Director of the Center shall be an ex-officio
4-2 member.
4-3 (6) A representative from the Texas Department of
4-4 Transportation designated by the Texas Department of Transportation
4-5 shall be an ex-officio member. The Maritime/Marine Industry
4-6 Council shall make program priority recommendations to the Director
4-7 and serve as a resource group to the Center.
4-8 Sec. 88.607. FUNDING. The Center is authorized to receive
4-9 state appropriated funds as deemed appropriate by the legislature.
4-10 Sec. 88.608. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The Center shall seek and
4-11 may receive gifts and grants from federal sources foundations,
4-12 individuals, and other sources for the benefit of the Center.
4-13 Sec. 88.609. CONTRACTS. The Center is authorized to enter
4-14 into interagency contracts and agreements and to contract with
4-15 local, state, county, federal and private sources for work under
4-16 the Center's programs.
4-17 SECTION 2. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
4-18 and the crowded conditions of the calendars in both houses create
4-19 an emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on the three several
4-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.