SRC-TBR C.S.S.B. 246 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 246 77R10950 DWS-FBy: Shapleigh Business & Commerce 4/4/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Adequate transportation infrastructure along the Texas-Mexico border is critical to a prosperous state economy. C.S.S.B. 246 requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to develop recommendations for how state resources in the department's three border districts should be allocated in order to increase international trade. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 201.608(a) and (c), Transportation Code, as follows: (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department), as part of an annual review, with the cooperation of the Center for Transportation Research at The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Transportation Institute, to develop recommendations concerning how state and federal highway funds or resources are to be used in the department's Pharr, Laredo, and El Paso districts to increase international trade, including certain recommendations, strategies and revisions. (c) Requires the department, not later than February 1 of each odd-numbered year, to report to the legislature on the recommendations developed under Subsection (a). SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Amends As Filed S.B. 246 by adding language stating that state and federal highway funds or resources may be used in the department's Pharr, Laredo, and El Paso districts to increase international trade. Adds language to specify that the recommendations required by this section are to include certain recommendations, strategies, and revisions.