S.B. No. 293




AN ACT

relating to meetings between representatives of the Department of 
Public Safety of the State of Texas and Mexican states on 
transportation and truck inspection issues.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 411.0097 to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.0097.  TRANSPORTATION AND INSPECTIONS MEETING WITH 
REPRESENTATIVES OF MEXICAN STATES.  (a)  The department shall 
initiate efforts to meet at least quarterly with the department's 
counterparts in the Mexican states bordering this state to discuss 
issues relating to truck inspections and transportation and 
infrastructure involved in truck inspections and transportation.
	(b)  To assist the department in carrying out this section, 
the department shall contact the border commerce coordinator 
designated under Section 772.010 and the mayors of each 
municipality in this state in which a port of entry for land traffic 
is located.
	(c)  At least one department representative participating in 
a meeting under Subsection (a) must be proficient in Spanish.
	(d)  The department, in conjunction with the border commerce 
coordinator, shall develop short-range and long-range plans, 
including recommendations to increase bilateral relations with 
Mexico and expedite trade by mitigating delays in border crossing 
inspections for northbound truck traffic.  In developing the plans, 
the department and coordinator shall consider information obtained 
from any meetings under Subsection (a).  The department shall 
update the plan biennially and submit the updated plan to the 
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, 
and each other member of the legislature on or before December 1 of 
each even-numbered year.
	SECTION 2.  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.

                                                                              




______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 293 passed the Senate on 
March 22, 2005, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0; and that 
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 26, 2005, by the 
following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 293 passed the House, with 
amendment, on May 20, 2005, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, 
Nays 0, two present not voting.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor