1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the establishment of a task force to study the
 1-3     viability of creating border port of entry authorities.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:
 1-6                 (1)  "Authority" means a border port of entry
 1-7     authority.
 1-8                 (2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
 1-9     Transportation.
1-10                 (3)  "Task force" means the Border Port of Entry
1-11     Authority Task Force established under this Act.
1-12           SECTION 2.  BORDER PORT OF ENTRY AUTHORITY TASK FORCE.  The
1-13     department shall establish a Border Port of Entry Authority Task
1-14     Force to study the viability of creating border port of entry
1-15     authorities to facilitate the transportation and other movement of
1-16     goods through El Paso County.
1-17           SECTION 3.  MEMBERSHIP.  (a)  The task force is composed of:
1-18                 (1)  one nonvoting member representing the department,
1-19     appointed by the executive director of the department;
1-20                 (2)  three members representing the city of El Paso,
1-21     appointed by the mayor of El Paso;
1-22                 (3)  three members representing the county of El Paso,
1-23     appointed by the county judge; and
1-24                 (4)  three members approved by the transportation
1-25     policy board of the El Paso region.
 2-1           (b)  The member representing the department shall serve as
 2-2     the presiding officer of the task force.
 2-3           SECTION 4.  ASSISTANCE; EXPENSES.  (a)  The department shall
 2-4     provide staff necessary to assist the task force in performing its
 2-5     duties.
 2-6           (b)  A task force member is not entitled to compensation.
 2-7     Each entity with a member on the task force is responsible for that
 2-8     member's expenses.
 2-9           SECTION 5.  TASK FORCE DUTIES.  In studying the viability of
2-10     creating authorities, the task force shall study and consider:
2-11                 (1)  the procedures used to create an authority,
2-12     including election procedures;
2-13                 (2)  the jurisdiction of an authority;
2-14                 (3)  the potential powers and responsibilities of an
2-15     authority, including:
2-16                       (A)  improving, operating, and maintaining
2-17     warehouses, parking facilities, service stations, and toll and
2-18     toll-free roads and bridges and related structures and
2-19     infrastructure;
2-20                       (B)  the power of eminent domain; and
2-21                       (C)  long-term planning, including the
2-22     preparation of a comprehensive development plan; and
2-23                 (4)  sources of revenue for an authority.
2-24           SECTION 6.  CONSULTATION.  In conducting its study, the task
2-25     force shall consult with the department and each metropolitan
2-26     planning organization whose planning area includes a portion of El
 3-1     Paso County.
 3-2           SECTION 7.  REPORT.  (a)  The department shall prepare a
 3-3     report of the findings and recommendations of the task force.  The
 3-4     department may include its own recommendations in the report.
 3-5           (b)  The department may contract with a private entity or a
 3-6     university to prepare the report.
 3-7           (c)  Not later than January 15, 2003, the department shall
 3-8     submit the report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
 3-9     house of representatives.
3-10           SECTION 8.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.  Chapter 2110,
3-11     Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
3-12           SECTION 9.  EXPIRATION.  The task force is abolished and this
3-13     Act expires January 15, 2003.
3-14           SECTION 10.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
3-15     immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
3-16     elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III,
3-17     Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote
3-18     necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1,
3-19     2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 465 passed the Senate on
         April 24, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0, one
         present not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
         amendment on May 26, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0,
         one present not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 465 passed the House, with
         amendment, on May 23, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 145,
         Nays 0, two present not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor