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.