HBA-DMD C.S.S.B. 1375 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1375
By: Shapleigh
State, Federal, & International Relations
4/30/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Mexico is currently the United States' second-largest trading partner and
Texas' largest.  Texas exports accounted for 43.7 percent of all 1997 U.S.
shipments to Mexico and totaled $31.2 billion, an increase of 15.3 percent
over 1996 export levels.  With almost 80 percent of all U.S. trade with
Mexico passing through Texas ports of entry, the growth of Texas-Mexico
trade has brought severe traffic congestion at crossings on the
Texas-Mexico border. 

This congestion delays the shipment of raw materials and finished goods,
hampering commerce. Congestion at the border also contributes to air
pollution and pavement damage.  There are a number of factors responsible
for congestion at border crossings. 

State agencies with a presence at the border include the Department of
Public Safety, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department
of Insurance, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and the
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (comptroller).  Each agency generally
has its own rules and procedures, and coordination between agencies present
at the Texas border is limited. 

S.B. 1375 requires the comptroller to conduct a study of the movement of
commercial vehicles across the border between this state and Mexico to
determine how separation of state government functions involving regulation
of commerce from functions involving detection and prevention would reduce
congestion and enhance the effective movement of vehicles.  S.B. 1375 also
requires the comptroller to develop recommendations for accomplishing this
separation and creating a model for the continuing independent operation of
those functions. 

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. (a) Requires the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) to
conduct a study of movement of commercial vehicles across the border
between this state and Mexico in order to determine how separation of state
government functions involving regulation of commerce from functions
involving detection and prevention of crime would reduce congestion and
enhance the effective movement of those vehicles. Requires the comptroller
to develop recommendations for the manner of accomplishing this separation
and a model for the continuing independent operation of those functions. 

(b) Authorizes the comptroller, in cooperation with the office of the
governor, to consult, exchange information not confidential under the law
of this state, and otherwise work jointly with relevant agencies of
federal, state, or local government to the extent the comptroller considers
appropriate for purposes of this Act. 

(c) Requires the comptroller to submit the results of the study and the
comptroller's recommendations and model to the governor, lieutenant
governor, and speaker of the house of representatives, before January 1,
2001. 
 SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
Effective date: upon passage.