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.