SRC-JXG S.B. 913 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 913 76R6436 DRH-DBy: Shapleigh Border Affairs - Special 4/14/1999 As Filed 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 would require 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. PURPOSE As proposed, 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 establish and maintain an inspection station in Brownsville, Laredo, and El Paso, along a major highway at or near a border crossing from Mexico so that all federal, state, and municipal agencies that regulate the passage of commercial motor vehicles may be located in one place. Authorizes TxDOT to enter into agreements with federal, state, and municipal agencies to accomplish the purpose of Subsection (a). Authorizes an agreement to involve the lease of office space at the inspection station by TxDOT to the agency. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.