By Shapleigh, et al.                                   S.B. No. 246
         Substitute the following for S.B. No. 246:
         By Alexander                                       C.S.S.B. No. 246
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a review of transportation projects related to
 1-3     international trade.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subsections (a) and (c), Section 201.608,
 1-6     Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The department annually shall review its proposed road
 1-8     projects to determine whether the projects are adequate to allow
 1-9     for the projected volume of highway traffic resulting from
1-10     international trade over the five-year period following the date of
1-11     the review.  As part of the review, the department shall develop
1-12     recommendations concerning how department resources may be used in
1-13     the department's districts adjacent to the border with Mexico to
1-14     facilitate international trade.  The department may contract with a
1-15     public senior college or university, as defined by Section 61.003,
1-16     Education Code, for assistance in preparing all or a portion of the
1-17     review.  The recommendations must include:
1-18                 (1)  recommendations concerning transportation linkages
1-19     between national and international markets and the area adjacent to
1-20     the border with Mexico, including rural communities in that area;
1-21     and
1-22                 (2)  strategies to eliminate congestion at
1-23     international border crossings.
1-24           (c)  Not later than February 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
 2-1     department shall report to the legislature on:
 2-2                 (1)  the ability of the state highway system to allow
 2-3     for the projected volume of highway traffic resulting from
 2-4     international trade over the five-year period following the date of
 2-5     the report; and
 2-6                 (2)  the recommendations developed under Subsection
 2-7     (a).
 2-8           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.