By: Truan, Lucio, Rosson S.B. No. 1633 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to requiring the approval of the Texas Transportation 1-2 Commission before a political subdivision or private entity may 1-3 construct or finance the construction of a bridge across the Rio 1-4 Grande. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 116, Revised Statutes, is 1-7 amended by adding Article 6674v-8 to read as follows: 1-8 Art. 6674v-8. APPROVAL BY COMMISSION OF BRIDGE OVER RIO 1-9 GRANDE. (a) A political subdivision or private entity authorized 1-10 to construct or finance the construction of a bridge over the Rio 1-11 Grande must obtain approval from the Texas Transportation 1-12 Commission for the construction of the bridge before requesting 1-13 approval from the federal government under Subchapter IV, Chapter 1-14 11, Title 33, United States Code. 1-15 (b) In determining whether to approve the construction of a 1-16 bridge described by Subsection (a) of this article, the commission 1-17 shall consider: 1-18 (1) the financial resources available to the political 1-19 subdivision or private entity for construction of the bridge; 1-20 (2) whether the revenue to be generated by the bridge 1-21 is sufficient to finance the planning, design, construction, 1-22 operation, and maintenance of the bridge; 1-23 (3) whether the construction of the bridge is 2-1 consistent with the transportation plan adopted by the state and, 2-2 if appropriate, by the metropolitan planning organization having 2-3 jurisdiction over the bridge; 2-4 (4) the potential impact of the bridge on: 2-5 (A) the economy of the region in which the 2-6 bridge is to be located; 2-7 (B) the environment of the region in which the 2-8 bridge is to be located; 2-9 (C) traffic congestion and mobility; and 2-10 (D) the free flow of trade between the United 2-11 Mexican States and this state; and 2-12 (5) commitments from the appropriate jurisdictions of 2-13 the United Mexican States to provide adequate approach roadways to 2-14 the bridge. 2-15 (c) In making its determination, the commission shall seek 2-16 the advice of: 2-17 (1) the Department of Public Safety of the State of 2-18 Texas; 2-19 (2) the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-20 Commission; 2-21 (3) the Texas Historical Commission; 2-22 (4) the Department of Agriculture; 2-23 (5) the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; 2-24 (6) the Texas Department of Commerce; and 2-25 (7) any other state agency the commission determines 3-1 is appropriate. 3-2 (d) A political subdivision or private entity seeking the 3-3 approval of the commission under Subsection (a) of this article 3-4 shall submit to the commission a report detailing the feasibility, 3-5 location, economic effects, environmental impact, and any other 3-6 information the commission may by rule require to make its 3-7 determination. 3-8 (e) The commission may adopt rules as necessary to 3-9 administer this article. To the maximum extent practicable, the 3-10 department shall implement the approval process in the manner least 3-11 burdensome to the applicant. 3-12 (f) If the commission fails to make a determination before 3-13 the 121st day after the day the commission receives a request for 3-14 approval under this article, the request is considered approved. 3-15 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only 3-16 to a bridge for which a political subdivision or private entity 3-17 applies for approval from the federal government on or after the 3-18 effective date of this Act. 3-19 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-24 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-25 passage, and it is so enacted.