By Gutierrez, Oliveira                                H.B. No. 1861
         76R3293 DWS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to increasing private investments in transportation
 1-3     infrastructure in the border region.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 201.109(b), Transportation Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  In carrying out this section, the commission shall
 1-8     provide for:
 1-9                 (1)  maximizing the generation of revenue from existing
1-10     assets of the department, including real estate;
1-11                 (2)  increasing the role of the private sector and
1-12     public-private projects in the leasing of real estate and other
1-13     assets in the development of highway projects;
1-14                 (3)  setting and attempting to meet annual revenue
1-15     enhancement goals;
1-16                 (4)  reporting on the progress in meeting revenue
1-17     enhancement goals in the department's annual report;
1-18                 (5)  contracting for an independent audit of the
1-19     department's management and business operations in 2001 and each
1-20     12th year after 2001;  [and]
1-21                 (6)  developing a cost-benefit analysis between the use
1-22     of local materials previously incorporated into roadways versus use
1-23     of materials blended or transported from other sources; and
1-24                 (7)  increasing private investment in the
 2-1     transportation infrastructure in the border region, including the
 2-2     counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks,  Cameron,
 2-3     Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio,
 2-4     Hidalgo, Hudspeth,  Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr,
 2-5     Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak,  Maverick, McMullen,
 2-6     Medina, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, San Patricio,
 2-7     Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata,
 2-8     and Zavala.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-10           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.