By: Truan S.B. No. 1633
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the authority of a political subdivision or private
1-2 entity to construct or finance the construction of a bridge to
1-3 Mexico.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 116, Revised Statutes, is
1-6 amended by adding Article 6674v-8 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 1. In this article:
1-8 (1) "Commission" means the Texas Transportation
1-9 Commission.
1-10 (2) "Political subdivision" means a county,
1-11 municipality, or special district created under state law.
1-12 (3) "Private entity" means any individual, company,
1-13 corporation or other private interest.
1-14 (4) "Region" means those geographical areas of Texas
1-15 and the United Mexican States affected by the project.
1-16 Sec. 2. (a) A political subdivision or private entity
1-17 authorized by law to construct or to finance the construction of a
1-18 bridge over the part of the Rio Grande that forms the border
1-19 between Texas and the United Mexican States shall obtain the
1-20 commission's approval for any new crossing prior to requesting
1-21 approval from the United States Secretary of State pursuant to the
1-22 International Bridge Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 535, et seq.. In
1-23 determining whether to approve such project, the commission shall
2-1 secure the advice and recommendations of the Texas Department of
2-2 Public Safety, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
2-3 the Texas Historical Commission, the Texas Department of
2-4 Agriculture, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Texas
2-5 Department of Commerce, and any other state agency the commission
2-6 deems appropriate to determine the necessity for such bridge.
2-7 (b) The commission shall adopt procedural and substantive
2-8 rules for the approval of construction of a bridge governed by this
2-9 section. Such rules shall include, but are not limited to
2-10 consideration of:
2-11 (1) the comments and recommendations of the state
2-12 agencies consulted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section;
2-13 (2) the financial resources available to the political
2-14 subdivision to construct or finance the construction of the bridge;
2-15 (3) the financial feasibility of the project based
2-16 upon its ability to generate revenue sufficient to finance the
2-17 construction, maintenance, operation, design, and planning of the
2-18 project;
2-19 (4) the consistency of the project with the adopted
2-20 state transportation plan and, if pertinent, the regional
2-21 transportation plan adopted by a metropolitan planning organization
2-22 having jurisdiction in the project area; and
2-23 (5) the potential impact of the bridge on:
2-24 (A) the economy of the region in which the
2-25 bridge is to be located;
3-1 (B) the environmental impacts in the region in
3-2 which the bridge is located;
3-3 (C) traffic congestion and mobility; and
3-4 (D) the free flow of trade between the United
3-5 Mexican States and the State of Texas.
3-6 (c) Prior to requesting commission approval of the project,
3-7 the political subdivision or private entity shall conduct studies
3-8 concerning the feasibility, location, and economic and
3-9 environmental impacts, and shall provide the results of such
3-10 studies and any other information the commission may require by
3-11 rule as necessary for its consideration under subsection (b) of
3-12 this section.
3-13 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
3-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-18 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-19 passage, and it is so enacted.