By:  Lucio, Shapleigh, Zaffirini                                  S.B. No. 183


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the appointment, operation, and recommendations of the 
Border Trade Advisory Committee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 201.114, Transportation Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	Sec. 201.114.  BORDER TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)  In 
this section, "coordinator" means the border commerce coordinator 
designated under Section 772.010, Government Code.
	(b)  The coordinator shall serve on the Border Trade Advisory 
Committee as presiding officer.  The commission shall appoint the 
other members of the committee, which to the extent practicable 
must include:
		(1)  the presiding officers, or persons designated by 
the presiding officers, of the policy boards of metropolitan 
planning organizations located adjacent to the border with the 
United Mexican States and wholly or partly in the department's 
Pharr, Laredo, or El Paso transportation district;
		(2)  the person serving, or a person designated by the 
person serving, in the capacity of executive director of each 
entity governing a port of entry in this state; and
		(3)  a representative each from at least two institutes 
or centers operated by a university in this state that conduct 
continuing research on transportation or trade issues.
	(c)  The commission shall establish the Border Trade 
Advisory Committee to define and develop a strategy and make 
recommendations to the commission and governor for addressing the 
highest priority border trade transportation challenges.  In 
determining action to be taken on the recommendations, the 
commission shall consider the importance of trade with the United 
Mexican States, potential sources of infrastructure funding at 
border ports, and the value of trade activity in the department's 
districts adjacent to the border with the United Mexican States.
	(d) [(b)]  The commission may adopt rules governing the 
Border Trade Advisory Committee.
	(e)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the 
size, composition, or duration of the Border Trade Advisory 
Committee.
	SECTION 2.  Section 201.6011, Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 201.6011.  INTERNATIONAL TRADE CORRIDOR PLAN.  (a)  To 
the extent possible, the department shall coordinate with 
appropriate entities to develop an integrated international trade 
corridor plan.  The plan must:
		(1)  include strategies and projects to aid the 
exchange of international trade using the system of multiple 
transportation modes in this state; [and]
		(2)  assign priorities based on the amount of 
international trade, measured by weight and value, using the 
transportation systems of this state, including:
			(A)  border ports of entry;                                                  
			(B)  commercial ports;                                                       
			(C)  inland ports;                                                           
			(D)  highways;                                                               
			(E)  pipelines;                                                              
			(F)  railroads; and                                                          
			(G)  deepwater gulf ports; and                                        
		(3)  address implementation of the recommendations of 
the Border Trade Advisory Committee under Section 201.114.
	(b)  The department shall update the plan biennially and
report on the implementation of this section to the presiding 
officer of each house of the legislature no later than December 1 of 
each even-numbered year[, 2004].
	SECTION 3.  The term of a member serving on the Border Trade 
Advisory Committee immediately preceding the effective date of this 
Act expires on that date.  The member may be reappointed to the 
committee.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.


COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
	Amend S.B. 183 as follows:                                                     
	(1)  On page 1, lines 16 and 17 delete "located adjacent to 
the border with the United Mexican States"
	(2)  On page 1, line 18 after the second "," and before "or" 
by inserting "Odessa,".

                                                                        Chavez