By: Patterson 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. 88.600 Definitions
1-7 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.
1-17 The Center for Ports and Waterways is established as a
1-18 component of the Texas Transportation Institute, a component of the
1-19 Texas A&M University System. The operating budget, staffing and
1-20 activities of the Center shall be approved by the board of regents
1-21 of The Texas A&M University System.
1-22 Sec. 88.602 Purpose.
1-23 The Center shall carry out a program of research, education
2-1 and technology transfer to support the State's role in the inland
2-2 waterway and port system in Texas.
2-3 Sec. 88.603 Program.
2-4 The program of the center shall be authorized to include:
2-5 (1) the development and testing of new marine/maritime
2-6 technologies and supporting their implementation;
2-7 (2) aiding transportation planners to better prepare
2-8 for future inland and coastal waterway transportation needs;
2-9 (3) studying complex policy issues and assisting the
2-10 state in defining roles of marine and intermodal transportation for
2-11 sustainable development;
2-12 (4) conducting research and studies that foster
2-13 productivity and competitiveness in the maritime/marine industry;
2-14 (5) fostering public awareness of the importance of
2-15 ports and waterways to the economy of Texas;
2-16 (6) transferring knowledge and technology to industry,
2-17 state and local governments and the public;
2-18 (7) establishing programs and partnerships with public
2-19 or private entities to develop and implement new policies,
2-20 technology, strategies, relationships and sources of funding;
2-21 (8) studying environmental conflicts, complements and
2-22 risks associated with water transportation; and
2-23 (9) other services consistent with the purpose of the
2-24 program.
2-25 Sec. 88.604 Director.
3-1 The Center is under the supervision and direction of the
3-2 Director and shall be operated and managed as a joint program
3-3 between the consortium. The Director of the Center is under the
3-4 supervision and direction of the Director of the Texas
3-5 Transportation Institute.
3-6 Sec. 88.605 Steering Committee.
3-7 (a) The steering committee is appointed by the Director of
3-8 the Texas Transportation Institute and shall include a
3-9 representative of each member of the consortium and others. The
3-10 President or the Director of each consortium member shall recommend
3-11 an individual to serve as a member of the steering committee.
3-12 (b) The steering committee is established to advise and make
3-13 recommendations to the Director on the operations and activities of
3-14 the Center.
3-15 Sec. 88.606 Maritime/Marine Industry Council.
3-16 The Maritime/Marine Industry Council is composed of at least
3-17 nine persons appointed by the Director of the Texas Transportation
3-18 Institute with at least the following representation:
3-19 (1) One member shall be the President of the Texas
3-20 Waterway Operators, or the President's designated representative.
3-21 (2) One member shall be the President of the Texas
3-22 Ports Association, or the President's designated representative.
3-23 (3) Four members shall be representatives from Texas
3-24 ports to be recommended by the membership of the Texas Ports
3-25 Association.
4-1 (4) Three members shall be representatives from the
4-2 barge industry.
4-3 (5) The director of the Center shall be an ex-officio
4-4 member.
4-5 (6) A representative from the Texas Department of
4-6 Transportation designated by the Texas Department of Transportation
4-7 shall be an ex-officio member.
4-8 The Maritime/Marine Industry Council shall make program
4-9 priority recommendations to the Director and serve as a resource
4-10 group to the Center.
4-11 Sec. 88.607 Funding.
4-12 The Center is authorized to receive state appropriated funds
4-13 as deemed appropriate by the legislature.
4-14 Sec. 88.608 Gifts and Grants.
4-15 The Center shall seek and may receive gifts and grants from
4-16 federal sources foundations, individuals, and other sources for the
4-17 benefit of the Center.
4-18 Sec. 88.609 Contracts.
4-19 The Center is authorized to enter into interagency contracts
4-20 and agreements and to contract with local, state, county, federal
4-21 and private sources for work under the Center's programs.
4-22 SECTION 2. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
4-23 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on the three several
5-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.