S.B. 786 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 786
By: Shapleigh
Border and International Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Over the past 15 years, U.S. trade with Mexico has increased 400 percent,
from $48 billion to 
$239 billion. Eighty percent of all U.S. trade with Mexico passes through
Texas' ports-of-entry, 
making Mexico the state's most important trading partner, accounting for
one in every five jobs 
in the state and 14 percent of the state's gross product. It is estimated
that approximately 70,000 
to 75,000 commercial vehicles made more than 7 million trips across the
Texas-Mexico border in 
2001.  Neither the U.S. nor Mexico has made the adjustments necessary to
handle growing traffic. Inspection and customs procedures at our
ports-of-entry are outdated, leading to restricted movement of goods an
people across the border. To facilitate overland trade with Mexico, the
state must identify the current barriers, both procedural and
infrastructure-related, to border crossings at each of Texas'
ports-of-entry. 

S.B. 786 requires the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house to
establish a border 
community trade task force for each of the four municipalities with the
largest populations in the 
border region to identify procedural and infrastructure barriers to the
flow of commerce between 
the U.S. and Mexico at Texas ports-of-entry, and study procedures to
expedite the process. This 
bill also requires the task force to include representatives from U.S. and
Mexican federal and 
state agencies, and business communities.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, 
institution, or agency.

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. S.B. 786 defines "border region" and "task force."

SECTION 2. S.B. 786 requires the lieutenant governor and speaker of the
house of representatives to establish a border community task force for
each of the four municipalities with the largest populations in the border
region to identify procedural and infrastructure impediments to the free
flow of trade between the United States and Mexico. The bill requires the
task force to make findings and recommendations regarding those
impediments. 

SECTION 3. S.B. 786 requires the lieutenant governor and speaker of the
house of representatives to appoint certain persons to the task force, as
soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. The bill
requires the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
representatives to jointly select the presiding officer of each task force
from the members and authorizes a task force to designate other officers
as it deems appropriate. 

SECTION 4. S.B. 786 authorizes each task force to request assistance and
information, other than confidential information relating to an
individual, from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The bill requires DPS and TxDOT to
provide the assistance and information requested, to the extent
practicable. The bill provides that both TxDOT and DPS are responsible for
theexpenses of their respective representative's service on each task
force. 

SECTION 5. S.B. 786 requires each task force to study and evaluate the
procedures and practices  maintained at the port of entry between Texas
and Mexico nearest each task force's represented municipality, to
determine possible modifications to expedite the flow of goods. The bill
sets forth some evaluation criteria. The bill requires each task force to
study primary and secondary inspection processes related to DPS
administered motor carrier safety regulations and commercial driver's
license requirements to determine possible areas for automation to
expedite the free flow of trade. The bill requires each task force to
analyze current situations and developing solutions in anticipation of
removal of geographical access barriers on Mexican commercial trucks. 

SECTION 6. S.B. 786 requires each task force to file a report on its
findings and recommendations, including those for legislative or
administrative action, with the lieutenant 
governor and the speaker of the house of representatives, not later than
December 31, 2004. 

SECTION 7. S.B. 786 provides that the task forces are abolished and this
Act expires on September 1, 2005. 

SECTION 8. Effective Date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, this Act
takes effect on September 1, 2003.