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.