82R2789 JXC-D

By: Deshotel H.B. No. 699

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Port Authority Advisory Committee and funding of

port security, transportation, and facility projects and port

studies.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 55.001(5), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(5) "Port security, transportation, or facility

project" means a project that is necessary or convenient for the

proper operation of a maritime port and that will improve the

security, movement, and intermodal transportation of cargo or

passengers in commerce and trade.

SECTION 2. Section 55.002(b), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) The commission may by rule establish matching fund

requirements for receiving money from the fund [department may not

fund a port security, transportation, or facility project unless an

amount at least equal to the amount provided by the department is

invested in the project by a port authority or navigation

district].

SECTION 3. Section 55.006(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The committee consists of seven members appointed by the

commission. The members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) one member from the Port of Houston Authority;

(2) three members who represent maritime ports on the

upper Texas coast; and

(3) three members who represent maritime ports on the

lower Texas coast.

SECTION 4. Section 55.007, Transportation Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 55.007. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. The committee shall:

(1) prepare a port mission plan;

(2) review each project eligible to be funded under

this chapter and make recommendations for approval or disapproval

to the department;

(3) not later than December 1 of each even-numbered

year, prepare and submit to the commission a report for

distribution to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the

speaker of the house of representatives on the state of maritime

ports in this state, including:

(A) information regarding types of cargo passing

through maritime ports;

(B) information regarding employment at maritime

ports;

(C) information regarding tax revenues from

maritime port activities;

(D) any other information on the economic impact

of port activities that the committee considers relevant; and

(E) [maintain trade data information that will

assist ports in this state and international trade;

[(4) annually prepare] a list of projects that have

been recommended by the committee, including:

(i) [(A)] the recommended funding level

for each project; and

(ii) [(B)] if staged implementation of the

project is appropriate, the funding requirements for each stage;

and

(4) [(5)] advise the commission and the department on

matters relating to port authorities.

SECTION 5. Section 55.008, Transportation Code, is

repealed.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.