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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a joint interim committee on high-speed |
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rail development. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Committee" means the joint interim committee on |
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high-speed rail development. |
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(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of |
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Transportation. |
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SECTION 2. CREATION OF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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joint interim committee on high-speed rail development is composed |
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of: |
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(1) three members of the house of representatives |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(2) three senators appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor. |
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(b) The speaker of the house of representatives and the |
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lieutenant governor shall make the appointments under Subsection |
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(a) of this section not later than the 60th day after the effective |
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date of this Act. |
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(c) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the |
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joint interim committee members. |
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(d) The committee shall convene at the joint call of the |
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co-chairs. |
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(e) The committee has all other powers and duties provided |
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to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and |
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house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government |
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Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on |
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administration. |
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SECTION 3. INTERIM STUDY REGARDING HIGH-SPEED RAIL. The |
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committee shall: |
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(1) evaluate the feasibility of creating a statewide |
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high-speed rail initiative through a public-private partnership; |
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and |
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(2) work with the department to develop a |
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comprehensive statewide strategy for the development of high-speed |
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rail in this state. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2018, the |
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committee shall provide to the legislature a written report: |
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(1) addressing the feasibility of creating a statewide |
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high-speed rail initiative through a public-private partnership; |
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and |
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(2) proposing a comprehensive statewide strategy for |
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the high-speed rail development in this state. |
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SECTION 5. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The joint interim |
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committee created by this Act is abolished and this Act expires |
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January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |