1-1 By: Ogden S.B. No. 586 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 7, 2001; February 8, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; 1-4 March 7, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, 1-5 Nays 0; March 7, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation of the Center for Transportation Safety as 1-9 part of the Texas Transportation Institute. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: 1-12 (1) in 1998, over 3,500 people died on Texas roads, 1-13 and the economic loss associated with traffic crashes in Texas in 1-14 that year was nearly $9 billion; 1-15 (2) in 1999, there were 3,106 fatal traffic accidents 1-16 that resulted in 3,519 deaths; 1-17 (3) deaths in rural areas of Texas, which are areas 1-18 that include towns with a population of less than 5,000, increased 1-19 by 1.4 percent over the number of deaths in 1998. These deaths 1-20 constitute 59.6 percent of the statewide death toll, as compared to 1-21 58 percent of all of the state's traffic deaths in 1998. The death 1-22 toll on rural interstates increased by 2.5 percent, from 238 in 1-23 1998 to 244 in 1999; 1-24 (4) there were no days in 1998 or 1999 during which 1-25 there were no deaths on Texas highways; 1-26 (5) as vehicle miles of travel continue to increase at 1-27 a much more rapid rate than does new roadway capacity, roadway 1-28 safety will become an even more serious issue in the years to come; 1-29 (6) although significant progress has been made over 1-30 the past two decades in reducing fatalities per vehicle mile 1-31 traveled, the absolute number of fatalities has remained at an 1-32 unacceptable level; 1-33 (7) for many years the topic of roadway safety has not 1-34 been a priority for research and education, resulting in a shortage 1-35 of educated professionals, poor and incomplete databases, and the 1-36 inadequate advancement of the state of the practice; 1-37 (8) new technologies and systems are on the horizon 1-38 that, with research and implementation, can effect major 1-39 improvements in roadway safety; and 1-40 (9) for these reasons the state must focus not only on 1-41 transportation issues of adding capacity and economic development, 1-42 but on issues of public health and safety. 1-43 SECTION 2. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-44 Subchapter J to read as follows: 1-45 SUBCHAPTER J. CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION SAFETY 1-46 Sec. 88.801. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-47 (1) "Center" means the Center for Transportation 1-48 Safety. 1-49 (2) "Institute" means the Texas Transportation 1-50 Institute, a component of The Texas A&M University System. 1-51 Sec. 88.802. ESTABLISHMENT. The Center for Transportation 1-52 Safety is established as a component of the institute and shall be 1-53 administered in the same manner as other programs of the institute. 1-54 Sec. 88.803. PROGRAMS. (a) The center shall conduct 1-55 programs of research, education, and technology transfer to support 1-56 the state's role in improving the safety of the roadways in this 1-57 state. 1-58 (b) The programs may include, but are not limited to: 1-59 (1) developing and testing roadway safety technologies 1-60 and supporting their implementation; 1-61 (2) aiding transportation planners to better prepare 1-62 for future roadway transportation needs; 1-63 (3) studying complex policy issues and providing input 1-64 as to how roadway safety affects such issues and affects roadway 2-1 transportation for sustainable development; 2-2 (4) conducting research and studies that foster 2-3 productivity and competitiveness in the roadway safety industry; 2-4 (5) fostering public awareness of the importance of 2-5 roadway safety to the economy of this state; 2-6 (6) transferring knowledge and technology to industry, 2-7 state and local governments, and the public; 2-8 (7) establishing programs and partnerships with public 2-9 or private entities to develop and implement new policies, 2-10 technology, strategies, relationships, and sources of funding; 2-11 (8) studying environmental conflicts, complements, and 2-12 risks associated with roadway transportation; 2-13 (9) engaging in other activities consistent with the 2-14 purpose of the center; and 2-15 (10) other activities as determined by the board. 2-16 Sec. 88.804. CONTRACTS. The center may enter into 2-17 interagency contracts and agreements and may contract with local, 2-18 state, county, federal, and private entities for work under the 2-19 center's programs. 2-20 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-21 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-22 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-23 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-24 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-25 * * * * *