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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Port Authority Advisory Committee and funding of |
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port security, transportation, and facility projects and port |
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studies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 55.001(5), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(5) "Port security, transportation, or facility |
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project" means a project that is necessary or convenient for the |
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proper operation of a maritime port and that will improve the
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security, movement, and intermodal transportation of cargo or |
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passengers in commerce and trade. |
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SECTION 2. Section 55.002(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may by rule establish matching fund |
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requirements for receiving money from the fund [department may not |
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fund a port security, transportation, or facility project unless an |
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amount at least equal to the amount provided by the department is |
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invested in the project by a port authority or navigation |
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district].
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SECTION 3. Section 55.006(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The committee consists of seven members appointed by the |
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commission. The members shall be appointed as follows: |
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(1) one member from the Port of Houston Authority; |
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(2) three members who represent maritime ports on the
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upper Texas coast; and |
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(3) three members who represent maritime ports on the
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lower Texas coast. |
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SECTION 4. Section 55.007, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 55.007. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. The committee shall: |
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(1) prepare a port mission plan; |
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(2) review each project eligible to be funded under |
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this chapter and make recommendations for approval or disapproval |
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to the department; |
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(3) not later than December 1 of each even-numbered |
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year, prepare and submit to the commission a report for |
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distribution to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the |
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speaker of the house of representatives on the state of maritime |
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ports in this state, including: |
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(A) information regarding types of cargo passing |
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through maritime ports; |
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(B) information regarding employment at maritime |
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ports; |
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(C) information regarding tax revenues from |
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maritime port activities; |
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(D) any other information on the economic impact |
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of port activities that the committee considers relevant; and |
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(E) [maintain trade data information that will |
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assist ports in this state and international trade; |
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[(4) annually prepare] a list of projects that have
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been recommended by the committee, including: |
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(i) [(A)] the recommended funding level
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for each project; and |
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(ii) [(B)] if staged implementation of the
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project is appropriate, the funding requirements for each stage; |
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and |
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(4) [(5)] advise the commission and the department on
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matters relating to port authorities. |
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SECTION 5. Section 55.008, Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |