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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to funding for certain transportation infrastructure |
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projects near the international border of this state; making an |
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appropriation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter Q to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER Q. COORDINATED BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 201.1001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Border region" means the portion of this state |
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that is not more than 100 miles from the border between Texas and |
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the United Mexican States. |
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(2) "Fund" means the coordinated border |
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infrastructure fund established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 201.1002. COORDINATED BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE FUND. (a) |
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The coordinated border infrastructure fund is a special fund in the |
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state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund consists |
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of: |
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(1) funds appropriated by the legislature to the |
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credit of the fund; |
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(2) any federal funds received by the state deposited |
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to the credit of the fund; |
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(3) matching state funds in an amount required by |
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federal law; |
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(4) money from any other available source; and |
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(5) investment earnings on the money on deposit in the |
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fund. |
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(b) The department shall administer the fund and money in |
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the fund may be appropriated only for the purposes of this |
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subchapter. |
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(c) Section 404.071, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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fund. |
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Sec. 201.1003. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The department shall |
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develop policies and procedures to administer a program under this |
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subchapter to make grants to entities described by Subsection (b) |
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for: |
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(1) construction of and improvements to |
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transportation and supporting infrastructure in the border region |
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that facilitate cross-border motor vehicle, cargo, and rail |
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movement, including highway and rail infrastructure and related |
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public safety and safety enforcement facilities; |
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(2) operational improvements in the border region, |
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including improvements relating to electronic data interchange and |
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use of telecommunications, that expedite cross-border motor |
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vehicle, cargo, and rail movement; |
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(3) modifications to regulatory procedures to |
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expedite safe and efficient cross-border motor vehicle, cargo, and |
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rail movement; or |
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(4) international coordination of transportation |
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planning, programming, and border operation with the United Mexican |
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States that relate to expediting cross-border motor vehicle, cargo, |
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and rail movement. |
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(b) The department may make a grant under the program only |
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to: |
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(1) a governmental entity located in a department |
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district that is adjacent to the border between this state and the |
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United Mexican States; or |
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(2) a private entity that owns or operates an |
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international port of entry between this state and the United |
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Mexican States. |
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Sec. 201.1004. MATCHING FUNDS. To be eligible to receive a |
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grant under the program, matching funds must be provided, from any |
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source, in an amount determined by the department that is equal to |
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at least 20 percent of the amount of the grant. |
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Sec. 201.1005. CERTAIN PROJECTS. An entity described by |
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Section 201.1003(b) may construct a project in the United Mexican |
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States using funds provided under this subchapter if: |
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(1) the project directly and predominantly |
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facilitates cross-border motor vehicle and cargo movement at an |
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international port of entry into the border region; and |
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(2) before receiving funds under this subchapter, the |
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United Mexican States or a political subdivision of the United |
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Mexican States that is responsible for the operation of the |
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facility to be constructed provides satisfactory assurances to the |
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department that any facility constructed with the funds will be: |
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(A) constructed in accordance with standards |
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equivalent to applicable standards in this state; and |
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(B) properly maintained and used over the life |
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cycle of the facility for the purpose described in Subdivision (1). |
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Sec. 201.1006. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules to |
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implement this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. The amount of $200 million is appropriated from |
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the general revenue fund for deposit into the coordinated border |
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infrastructure fund, as created by this Act, and the amount of $200 |
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million is appropriated from the coordinated border infrastructure |
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fund to the Texas Department of Transportation for the purpose of |
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implementing Subchapter Q, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, as |
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added by this Act, for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
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September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |