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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the financing of ports in the state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 55.001, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subdivision (4-a) to read as follows: |
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(4-a) "Port access improvement project" means the |
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construction or improvement of public roadways that will enhance |
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connectivity to ports. |
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SECTION 2. Section 55.002(e), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) The commission may use money from the Texas Mobility |
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Fund to provide funding for a port access improvement project[,
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including through a loan, for a port security project, a port
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transportation project, or a project eligible for funding under
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Subsection (c)]. |
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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 nine [seven] members |
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appointed [by the commission. The members shall be appointed] as |
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follows: |
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(1) one member from the Port of Houston Authority |
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appointed by the commission; |
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(2) three members who represent maritime ports on the |
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upper Texas coast appointed by the commission; [and] |
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(3) three members who represent maritime ports on the |
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lower Texas coast appointed by the commission; |
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(4) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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and |
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(5) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives. |
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SECTION 4. Subtitle A, Title 4, Transportation Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 56 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 56. FUNDING OF SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS |
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Sec. 56.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Transportation |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Fund" means the ship channel improvement |
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revolving fund. |
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(3) "Navigation district" means a navigation district |
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created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, |
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Texas Constitution, and operating under Chapter 60, 61, 62, or 63, |
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Water Code. |
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Sec. 56.002. SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING FUND. |
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(a) The ship channel improvement revolving fund is an account in |
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the general revenue fund. The fund is administered by the |
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commission. |
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(b) The following money shall be credited to the fund: |
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(1) money the commission receives as a gift, grant, or |
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donation for a purpose of this chapter; |
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(2) money appropriated to the commission for the |
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purposes of this chapter; |
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(3) money received by the commission for the repayment |
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of a loan made by the program established under Section 56.003; and |
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(4) interest earned on deposits and investments of the |
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fund. |
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(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the |
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commission for the purposes of administering the fund and the |
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program established under Section 56.003. |
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(d) The financial transactions of the fund are subject to |
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audit by the state auditor. |
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Sec. 56.003. REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. (a) The commission |
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by rule shall establish a revolving loan program to use money from |
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the fund to finance qualified projects for navigation districts. |
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(b) To be a qualified project, a project must: |
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(1) deepen or widen a ship channel; |
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(2) be authorized by the United States Congress; and |
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(3) meet any other standards provided by commission |
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rule. |
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(c) A project for maintenance dredging is not a qualified |
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project under this section. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2017. |