SRC-MWN S.B. 508 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 508
77R4031 JMG-DBy: Shapleigh
Business & Commerce
3/7/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, inspection and customs procedures at ports-of-entry in Texas are
outdated and cannot keep up with the increase in border traffic resulting
from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This has led to
congestion and air pollution in border cities and restricted the movement
of goods and people across the border. As proposed, S.B. 508 directs the
lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives to
establish a border community trade task force for each of the four
municipalities with the largest populations in the border region and
charges each task force with identifying procedural and infrastructure
barriers to the flow of commerce between the United States and Mexico at
Texas ports-of-entry. 

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. DEFINITIONS. Defines "border region" and "task force."

SECTION 2. BORDER COMMUNITY TRADE TASK FORCE. Requires the lieutenant
governor and speaker of the house of representatives to establish a border
community trade task force for each of the four municipalities with the
largest populations in the border region to identify procedural and
infrastructure impediments to the free flow of trade between the United
States and Mexico along the border region and make findings and
recommendations as considered appropriate regarding those trade
impediments. 

SECTION 3. MEMBERSHIP; OFFICERS. Requires the speaker of the house of
representatives and lieutenant governor to jointly appoint not more than 25
members to serve on each task force. Requires each task force to include
certain persons. Requires the speaker of the house of representatives and
lieutenant governor to jointly select the presiding officer of each task
force from among the task force members. Authorizes a task force to
designate other officers as the task force considers appropriate. 

SECTION 4. ASSISTANCE; EXPENSES.  Authorizes each task force to request
assistance and information, other than confidential information relating to
an individual, from the Department of Public Safety and the Texas
Department of Transportation. Requires those departments to provide the
assistance and information requested to the extent practicable. Authorizes
the expenses of each task force, including the compensation of necessary
staff, to be paid from any appropriate funds of the house of
representatives and the senate. Authorizes the legislature to appropriate
money for the support of each task force. 

SECTION 5.TASK FORCE DUTIES. Requires each task force to study and evaluate
the procedures and practices maintained at the port of entry between Texas
and Mexico nearest to the municipality represented by the task force to
determine what modifications could be made to expedite the flow of trade
from Mexico, including studying certain topics. Requires each task force to
also study the primary  and secondary inspection processes relating to
motor carrier safety regulations and commercial driver's licensure
requirements administered by the Department of Public Safety to determine
which of those processes, regulations, and requirements are authorized to
be automated to expedite the free flow of trade across the border crossing
from Mexico. Requires each task force to focus on analyzing current
situations and developing solutions in anticipating of the removal of
geographical access barriers on Mexico commercial trucks.  

SECTION 6. REPORTS. Requires not later than December 31, 2002, each task
force to file a report of the task force's activities, findings, and
recommendations with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
of representatives. Requires each report to include any recommendations for
legislative or administrative action the task force considers appropriate. 

SECTION 7. EXPIRATION. Provides that the task forces are abolished and this
Act expires September 1, 2003. 

SECTION 8. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.