By: Patterson, et al. S.B. No. 1223 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 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.