BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 816

By: Lucio

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Border Trade Advisory Committee was established around a decade ago to develop strategies and make recommendations to the Texas Transportation Commission and governor for addressing the highest priority border trade transportation challenges. The committee consists of persons representing certain metropolitan planning organizations, the state's ports of entry, and transportation or trade research institutions.

Recent developments that impact trade around the world, including the expansion of the Panama Canal, have led to increased recognition of the importance of multi-modal forms of transportation, particularly water-borne freight, to transportation planning. Recognizing the notable importance of waterborne trade to the state's economic future, especially with Texas' most significant trade partner, Mexico,

S.B. 816 seeks to address this importance by revising the committee's membership and including maritime ports in certain considerations.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

S.B. 816 amends the Transportation Code, in a provision requiring the Texas Transportation Commission to appoint members of the Border Trade Advisory Committee, which to the extent practicable must include certain persons, to include the port director of the Port of Brownsville or the port director's designee as such a person. The bill, in a provision requiring the commission to consider potential sources of infrastructure funding at border ports in determining action to be taken on committee recommendations, includes maritime ports as such border ports.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.