SRC-JXG S.B. 913 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 913
By: Shapleigh
Border Affairs - Special
7/6/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexico is
now the United States' second largest trading partner, and Texas' largest.
In 1997, Texas exports accounted for 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 U.S. trade with Mexico passing Texas' ports of entry.  The cities of
Laredo, Brownsville, and El Paso have experienced the greatest increase in
commercial vehicle traffic. S.B. 913 will require the Texas Department of
Transportation to establish and maintain one-stop border inspection
stations in Brownsville, Laredo, and El Paso to expedite the flow of
traffic at the ports of entry. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 913 creates one-stop border inspection stations in
Brownsville, Laredo, and El Paso. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

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

Sec. 201.613. ONE-STOP BORDER INSPECTION STATIONS. 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. Requires
TxDOT to establish and maintain an inspection station at the locations
chosen in Subsection (a) only if the 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. 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.  Requires TxDOT to spend at least $8 million but no more than $9
million of the funds that are appropriated to TxDOT by H.B. 1, Acts of the
76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, for the biennium beginning
September 1, 1999, or that are received from the federal government, for
the preliminary costs associated with establishing the facilities required
by Section 201.613, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, including
the design, site selection, purchase, and construction-related costs of the
facilities.  Requires TxDOT to apportion the funds in a manner to achieve
approximately equal progress in the establishment of the facilities at each
location. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.