By Zaffirini, et al.                                  S.B. No. 1559
         77R8969 JAT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to motor vehicle inspection facilities near the border of
 1-3     this state and Mexico.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 201.613, Transportation Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 201.613.  [ONE-STOP] BORDER INSPECTION FACILITIES
 1-8     [STATIONS]. (a)  The department shall erect and maintain eight
 1-9     border [choose a location for an] inspection facilities not farther
1-10     than 60 miles from the Rio Grande [station along a major highway at
1-11     or near a border crossing from Mexico] in the Pharr [Brownsville],
1-12     [in] Laredo, and [in] El Paso districts for the inspection of
1-13     motor vehicles after the vehicles have been inspected for
1-14     compliance with federal regulations [so that all federal, state,
1-15     and municipal agencies that regulate the passage of persons or
1-16     vehicles across the border at that border crossing may be located
1-17     in one place].
1-18           (b)  If a facility is to be located in a municipality or a
1-19     municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction, the municipality may
1-20     choose the location of the facility [The department shall establish
1-21     and maintain an inspection station at the locations chosen in
1-22     Subsection (a) only if the federal agencies involved in the
1-23     regulation of the passage of persons or vehicles at that border
1-24     crossing agree to the design of the facility at each location and
 2-1     agree to use the facility at each location if built].
 2-2           (c)  The department shall begin construction of the
 2-3     facilities at or about the same time and shall take reasonable
 2-4     steps to ensure that construction of the facilities progresses
 2-5     equally [The department may enter into agreements with federal,
 2-6     state, and municipal agencies to accomplish the purpose of this
 2-7     section. An agreement may involve the lease of office space at the
 2-8     inspection station by the department to the agency].
 2-9           SECTION 2. The Texas Department of Transportation shall spend
2-10     the money appropriated during the 76th Legislature for Section
2-11     201.613, Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 1527, Acts of the
2-12     76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, or money received from the
2-13     federal government to establish the border inspection facilities
2-14     under Section 201.613, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
2-15           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-16     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-17     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-18     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-19     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.