HBA-MSH H.B. 698 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 698
By: Gutierrez
Transportation
4/27/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NATFA) created a free trade zone
across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.  Seventy-seven percent of all
U.S.-Mexico trade passes through Texas points of entry.  In 1999, 4.4
million commercial trucks crossed the Texas-Mexico border, an increase of
214 percent since 1990.  The Texas border region faces unique circumstances
because of the large increase in traffic in the region.  Currently, the
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) divides the state into districts
for the purpose of administering projects.  The El Paso, Odessa, Laredo,
and Pharr districts are adjacent to the border.  House Bill 698 requires
TxDOT to give preference to the districts adjacent to the Mexico border
when evaluating projects and allocating money. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 698 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation when determining projects to be undertaken and
allocating money to its districts to consider the department's districts
adjacent to the Mexico border as a distinct category to be given preference
in relation to the amount and importance of international trade using state
transportation facilities in those districts. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.