By Oliveira H.B. No. 1918 76R2652 CLG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the State Transportation Council to 1-3 develop a statewide multimodal transportation plan. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "border region" has the 1-6 meaning assigned by Section 481.001, Government Code. 1-7 SECTION 2. STATE TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL. (a) The State 1-8 Transportation Council is created to develop a comprehensive, 1-9 multimodal transportation plan to promote and facilitate economic 1-10 development in this state. 1-11 (b) The council is composed of seven members appointed by 1-12 the governor. One member must be a representative of the Texas 1-13 Department of Transportation and at least one member must be a 1-14 resident of the border region. 1-15 SECTION 3. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall designate 1-16 a presiding officer of the council from among the members of the 1-17 council. 1-18 SECTION 4. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least 1-19 quarterly at the call of the presiding officer. 1-20 SECTION 5. COMPENSATION. A member of the council is not 1-21 entitled to receive compensation for serving as a member but is 1-22 entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by the 1-23 member while conducting the business of the council. 1-24 SECTION 6. STAFF. The Texas Department of Transportation 2-1 shall provide staff support to the council as necessary. 2-2 SECTION 7. TRANSPORTATION PLAN. In developing the plan 2-3 required by Section 2 of this Act, the council shall: 2-4 (1) consult with representatives of the airline, 2-5 maritime, shipping, and railroad industries in this state; 2-6 (2) discuss issues with and seek informational and 2-7 technical assistance from staff of the Texas Department of 2-8 Transportation, the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M 2-9 University, and any other transportation council, center, or 2-10 institution in this state; 2-11 (3) develop recommendations concerning linkages 2-12 between statewide transportation facilities and national and 2-13 international markets; 2-14 (4) develop recommendations concerning transportation 2-15 linkages between rural communities in this state and national and 2-16 international markets and between the border region and national 2-17 and international markets; 2-18 (5) develop a strategy to make ports located on the 2-19 Gulf Coast of this state the ports of choice for commerce in the 2-20 United States; 2-21 (6) develop a strategy to eliminate congestion at 2-22 international border crossings in this state; 2-23 (7) address and recommend means to facilitate access 2-24 to ports located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico; and 2-25 (8) address funding for the plan. 2-26 SECTION 8. COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF PLAN. Not later 2-27 than January 1, 2001, the council shall complete the plan required 3-1 by Section 2 of this Act and submit the plan to the governor and 3-2 legislature. 3-3 SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 3-4 1, 1999. 3-5 SECTION 10. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires and the State 3-6 Transportation Council is abolished September 1, 2001. 3-7 SECTION 11. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 3-8 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.