By Oliveira H.B. No. 1915 76R4879 WP-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to developing, constructing, and improving highways that 1-3 provide access to international ports of entry along the 1-4 Texas-Mexico border. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, 1-7 is amended by adding Section 201.613 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 201.613. INTERNATIONAL PORTS OF ENTRY. (a) As 1-9 authorized by Section 49-k, Article III, Texas Constitution, the 1-10 Texas Public Finance Authority may issue general obligation bonds 1-11 in an amount not to exceed $1 billion and distribute the bond 1-12 proceeds to the department to be used as provided by Subsection 1-13 (b). 1-14 (b) The department shall use the proceeds of bonds issued 1-15 under this section to develop, construct, and improve streets and 1-16 highways providing direct access to international ports of entry in 1-17 this state that are located on the border with the United Mexican 1-18 States or in a county bordering the United Mexican States having a 1-19 seaport. The department may take additional measures to promote 1-20 access to and development of international ports of entry, 1-21 including the construction of inspection facilities for use by 1-22 state or federal agencies. 1-23 (c) Bond proceeds distributed to the department under this 1-24 section shall be used only to fund a transportation project that is 2-1 not more than 30 miles from an international port of entry in this 2-2 state that is located on the border with the United Mexican States 2-3 or in a county bordering the United Mexican States having a 2-4 seaport. 2-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the date on which the 2-6 constitutional amendment proposed by __J.R. No. ____, 76th 2-7 Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, takes effect. If that 2-8 amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. 2-9 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.