S.B. No. 1633
                                        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.