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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the promotion of Texas airports in the international |
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marketplace. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.003(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.003(a). The aviation advisory committee consists of |
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[six] seven members appointed by the commission to advise the |
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commission and the department on aviation matters, one of which |
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must have ten years of experience in an executive position at an |
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international airport in a city with a population of 500,000 or |
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more. |
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SECTION 2. Sec. 21.101(a), Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.101(a). The department may loan or grant money to a |
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state agency with a governing board authorized to operate an |
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airport or to a governmental entity in this state to establish, |
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construct, reconstruct, enlarge, or repair an airport, airstrip, or |
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air navigational facility if: |
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(1) the money has been appropriated to the department |
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for that purpose; |
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(2) the Advisory Committee has reviewed the potential |
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of the proposed facility for capacity to serve international |
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commerce; and |
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(3)[(2)] providing the money will: |
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(A) best serve the public interest; and
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(B) best discharge the governmental aeronautics |
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function of the state or its political subdivisions; |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 21.115 to read as follows: |
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Section 21.115. TEXAS GLOBAL AIRPORTS PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section, "program" means the Texas Global Airports Program. |
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(b) An interagency, public-private sector work group |
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entitled the Texas Global Airports Work Group is created to: |
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(1) develop or update a process to allow agencies and |
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business to work together to identify the key emerging global |
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markets for Texas products and services, and inbound foreign |
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investment in Texas businesses, and collaborate to identify |
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improvements to Texas' airports to better serve international |
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commerce; |
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(2) consult with local governments, educational |
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institutions, economic development and metropolitan planning |
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organizations, workforce development agencies, small business |
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agencies, chambers of commerce, trade associations, and other |
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stakeholders, to elicit recommendations on a statewide strategy to |
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enhance services out of Texas' global airports; |
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(3) consult with the top industry consumers of Texas |
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products and services in foreign nations, elicit recommendations |
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on improvements to Texas airports, including enhancements |
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targeting international shippers and passengers, which would |
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improve Texas' ability to compete with other states, provinces and |
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nations for international aviation business; |
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(4) Establish a "Texas Global Airports Fund," and |
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criteria and a procedure through which a facility may secure |
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certification at "Texas Global Airport," entitling the facility to |
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apply for funding for capital and other improvements from the fund. |
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(c) The task force shall meet at least once quarterly in |
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Austin to report on results of their consultations, new |
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international partnerships, and best practices and case studies |
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from other states, provinces and nations. |
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(d) No later than December 31, 2014, the Task Force shall |
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publish its findings and strategic recommendations, including |
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selected case studies from other nations, and a strategic plan to |
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boost total international activity at Texas airports by 20% by the |
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year 2025. |
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(e) In fulfilling its duties, the task force shall consider |
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opportunities to collaborate with the federal government, |
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including the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal |
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Aviation Administration, and other federal government |
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departments, and the effect of federal policies, including trade |
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agreements, upon Texas' business opportunities in the global |
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marketplace. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |