S.B. No. 1223
AN ACT
1-1 relating to establishing the Center for Ports and Waterways.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-4 Subchapter G to read as follows:
1-5 SUBCHAPTER G. CENTER FOR PORTS AND WATERWAYS
1-6 Sec. 88.601. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-7 (1) "Center" means the Center for Ports and Waterways.
1-8 (2) "Consortium" means Lamar University, Texas A&M
1-9 University--Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University at Galveston, The
1-10 University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas A&M University, Texas
1-11 Transportation Institute, and the Center for Transportation
1-12 Research at The University of Texas at Austin.
1-13 (3) "Director" means the director of the Center for
1-14 Ports and Waterways.
1-15 Sec. 88.602. ESTABLISHMENT. The Center for Ports and
1-16 Waterways is established as a component of the Texas Transportation
1-17 Institute, a component of The Texas A&M University System. The
1-18 operating budget, staffing, and activities of the center shall be
1-19 approved by the board of regents of The Texas A&M University
1-20 System.
1-21 Sec. 88.603. PURPOSE. The center shall carry out a program
1-22 of research, education, and technology transfer to support the
1-23 state's role in the inland waterway and port system in Texas.
2-1 Sec. 88.604. PROGRAM. The program of the center shall be
2-2 authorized to include:
2-3 (1) the development and testing of new marine and
2-4 maritime technologies and supporting their implementation;
2-5 (2) aiding transportation planners to better prepare
2-6 for future inland and coastal waterway transportation needs;
2-7 (3) studying complex policy issues and assisting the
2-8 state in defining roles of marine and intermodal transportation for
2-9 sustainable development;
2-10 (4) conducting research and studies that foster
2-11 productivity and competitiveness in the maritime/marine industry;
2-12 (5) fostering public awareness of the importance of
2-13 ports and waterways to the economy of Texas;
2-14 (6) transferring knowledge and technology to industry,
2-15 state and local governments, and the public;
2-16 (7) establishing programs and partnerships with public
2-17 or private entities to develop and implement new policies,
2-18 technology, strategies, relationships, and sources of funding;
2-19 (8) studying environmental conflicts, complements, and
2-20 risks associated with water transportation; and
2-21 (9) other services consistent with the purpose of the
2-22 program.
2-23 Sec. 88.605. DIRECTOR. The center is under the supervision
2-24 and direction of the director and shall be operated and managed as
2-25 a joint program between the consortium. The director of the center
3-1 is under the supervision and direction of the Director of the Texas
3-2 Transportation Institute.
3-3 Sec. 88.606. STEERING COMMITTEE. (a) The steering
3-4 committee is appointed by the Director of the Texas Transportation
3-5 Institute and shall include a representative of each member of the
3-6 consortium and others. The president or the director of each
3-7 consortium member shall recommend an individual to serve as a
3-8 member of the steering committee.
3-9 (b) The steering committee is established to advise and make
3-10 recommendations to the director on the operations and activities of
3-11 the center.
3-12 Sec. 88.607. MARITIME/MARINE INDUSTRY COUNCIL. (a) The
3-13 Maritime/Marine Industry Council is composed of at least nine
3-14 persons appointed by the Director of the Texas Transportation
3-15 Institute with at least the following representation:
3-16 (1) one member shall be the President of the Texas
3-17 Waterway Operators or the president's designated representative;
3-18 (2) one member shall be the President of the Texas
3-19 Ports Association or the president's designated representative;
3-20 (3) four members shall be representatives from Texas
3-21 ports to be selected by the membership of the Texas Ports
3-22 Association;
3-23 (4) three members shall be representatives from the
3-24 barge industry;
3-25 (5) the director of the center shall be an ex officio
4-1 member;
4-2 (6) a representative from the Texas Department of
4-3 Transportation designated by the Texas Department of Transportation
4-4 shall be an ex officio member; and
4-5 (7) two registered professional engineers having
4-6 relevant marine experience shall be ex officio members.
4-7 (b) The Maritime/Marine Industry Council shall make program
4-8 priority recommendations to the director and serve as a resource
4-9 group for the center.
4-10 Sec. 88.608. FUNDING. The center is authorized to receive
4-11 state appropriated funds as deemed appropriate by the legislature.
4-12 Sec. 88.609. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The center shall seek and
4-13 may receive gifts and grants from federal sources, foundations,
4-14 individuals, and other sources for the benefit of the center.
4-15 Sec. 88.610. CONTRACTS. The center is authorized to enter
4-16 into interagency contracts and agreements and to contract with
4-17 local, state, county, federal, and private sources for work under
4-18 the center's programs.
4-19 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
4-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.