By Ogden S.B. No. 586 77R5931 JAT-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the Center for Transportation Safety as 1-3 part of the Texas Transportation Institute. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: 1-6 (1) in 1998, over 3,500 people died on Texas roads, 1-7 and the economic loss associated with traffic crashes in Texas in 1-8 that year was nearly $9 billion; 1-9 (2) in 1999, there were 3,106 fatal traffic accidents 1-10 that resulted in 3,519 deaths; 1-11 (3) deaths in rural areas of Texas, which are areas 1-12 that include towns with a population of less than 5,000, increased 1-13 by 1.4 percent over the number of deaths in 1998. These deaths 1-14 constitute 59.6 percent of the statewide death toll, as compared to 1-15 58 percent of all of the state's traffic deaths in 1998. The death 1-16 toll on rural interstates increased by 2.5 percent, from 238 in 1-17 1998 to 244 in 1999; 1-18 (4) there were no days in 1998 or 1999 during which 1-19 there were no deaths on Texas highways; 1-20 (5) as vehicle miles of travel continue to increase at 1-21 a much more rapid rate than does new roadway capacity, roadway 1-22 safety will become an even more serious issue in the years to come; 1-23 (6) although significant progress has been made over 1-24 the past two decades in reducing fatalities per vehicle mile 2-1 traveled, the absolute number of fatalities has remained at an 2-2 unacceptable level; 2-3 (7) for many years the topic of roadway safety has not 2-4 been a priority for research and education, resulting in a shortage 2-5 of educated professionals, poor and incomplete databases, and the 2-6 inadequate advancement of the state of the practice; 2-7 (8) new technologies and systems are on the horizon 2-8 that, with research and implementation, can effect major 2-9 improvements in roadway safety; and 2-10 (9) for these reasons the state must focus not only on 2-11 transportation issues of adding capacity and economic development, 2-12 but on issues of public health and safety. 2-13 SECTION 2. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding 2-14 Subchapter J to read as follows: 2-15 SUBCHAPTER J. CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION SAFETY 2-16 Sec. 88.801. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 2-17 (1) "Center" means the Center for Transportation 2-18 Safety. 2-19 (2) "Institute" means the Texas Transportation 2-20 Institute, a component of The Texas A&M University System. 2-21 Sec. 88.802. ESTABLISHMENT. The Center for Transportation 2-22 Safety is established as a component of the institute and shall be 2-23 administered in the same manner as other programs of the institute. 2-24 Sec. 88.803. PROGRAMS. (a) The center shall conduct 2-25 programs of research, education, and technology transfer to support 2-26 the state's role in improving the safety of the roadways in this 2-27 state. 3-1 (b) The programs may include, but are not limited to: 3-2 (1) developing and testing roadway safety technologies 3-3 and supporting their implementation; 3-4 (2) aiding transportation planners to better prepare 3-5 for future roadway transportation needs; 3-6 (3) studying complex policy issues and providing input 3-7 as to how roadway safety affects such issues and affects roadway 3-8 transportation for sustainable development; 3-9 (4) conducting research and studies that foster 3-10 productivity and competitiveness in the roadway safety industry; 3-11 (5) fostering public awareness of the importance of 3-12 roadway safety to the economy of this state; 3-13 (6) transferring knowledge and technology to industry, 3-14 state and local governments, and the public; 3-15 (7) establishing programs and partnerships with public 3-16 or private entities to develop and implement new policies, 3-17 technology, strategies, relationships, and sources of funding; 3-18 (8) studying environmental conflicts, complements, and 3-19 risks associated with roadway transportation; 3-20 (9) engaging in other activities consistent with the 3-21 purpose of the center; and 3-22 (10) other activities as determined by the board. 3-23 Sec. 88.804. CONTRACTS. The center may enter into 3-24 interagency contracts and agreements and may contract with local, 3-25 state, county, federal, and private entities for work under the 3-26 center's programs. 3-27 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 4-1 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 4-2 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 4-3 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 4-4 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.