HBA-NIK S.B. 913 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 913
By: Shapleigh
Transportation
5/10/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current U.S. trade with Mexico has been greatly enhanced by the passage of
the North American Free Trade Agreement.  Mexico is now the United States'
second largest trading partner, and Texas' largest.  In 1997, Texas exports
represented 43.7 percent of all U.S. shipments to Mexico, and totaled $31.2
billion, an increase of 15.3 percent over 1996 levels.  The rapid expansion
of Texas-Mexico trade has placed an enormous demand on Texas'
transportation infrastructure, with almost 80 percent of all overland U.S.
trade with Mexico passing through Texas' ports of entry.  Accordingly, the
cities of Laredo, Brownsville, and El Paso have experienced an increase in
commercial vehicle traffic. S.B. 913 requires the Texas Department of
Transportation to build and maintain one-stop border inspection stations in
Brownsville, Laredo, and El Paso to expedite the flow of traffic at the
ports of entry. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 201.613, as follows: 

Sec. 201.613. ONE-STOP BORDER INSPECTION STATIONS. (a) Requires the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to choose a location for an inspection
station along a major highway at or near a border crossing from Mexico in
Brownsville, in Laredo, and in El Paso so that all federal, state, and
municipal agencies that regulate the passage of persons or vehicles across
the border at that border crossing may be located in one place. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to establish and maintain an inspection station at the
locations chosen in Subsection (a) only if federal agencies involved in the
regulation of the passage of persons or vehicles at that border crossing
agree to the design of the facility at each location and agree to use the
facility at each location if built. 

(c) Authorizes TxDOT to enter into agreements with federal, state, and
municipal agencies to accomplish the purpose of this section.  Authorizes
an agreement to involve the lease of office space at the inspection station
by TxDOT to the agency. 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act takes effect only if a specific
appropriation for the implementation of this Act is provided in H.B. No. 1
(General Appropriations Act), Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1999.  Provides that if no specific appropriation is provided in
H.B. No. 1, the General Appropriations Act, this Act has no effect. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.