86BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1959
86R5786 BEE-F	By: Creighton
	Transportation
	4/8/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Port Authority Advisory Committee (committee) is a nine-member committee that advises the Texas Transportation Commission (TCC) on policy matters and provides updates on Texas' maritime ports.

Under current law, the committee is required to submit two reports that basically contain the same items�the Port Capital Program and the Port Mission Plan.

S.B. 1959 would amend Chapter 55, Transportation Code, to combine the two reports and clarify that the committee must submit the Port Mission Plan to the TTC, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives.

The Texas Department of Transportation anticipates greater efficiencies in staff time working on just one reporting requirement under Chapter 55.

As proposed, S.B. 1959 amends current law relating to the maritime port plans, reports, and programs prepared by the Port Authority Advisory Committee.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 55.007(a), Transportation Code, as follows:

(a) Requires the Port Authority Advisory Committee (committee) to:

(1) prepare the maritime port mission plan described by Section 55.008;

(2) makes a nonsubstantive change to this subdivision; and

(3) deletes existing text relating to preparing a report on Texas maritime ports with a list of projects that have been recommended by the committee every two years and redesignates existing Subdivision (4) as this subdivision.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 55.008, Transportation Code, as follows:

Sec. 55.008. New heading: MARITIME PORT MISSION PLAN. (a) Requires the committee to prepare a two-year maritime port mission plan, rather than a two‑year port capital program, defining the goals and objectives of the committee concerning the development of maritime port facilities and an intermodal transportation system. Requires the plan, rather than the port capital program, to include projects or studies submitted to the committee by any maritime port and recommendations for certain developments.

(b) Requires the committee to update the maritime port mission plan, rather than the port capital program, and to submit the updated plan, rather than the capital program, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year to certain persons.

SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 55.007(b) (relating to requiring the committee to update the report on Texas maritime ports and to submit the report by a certain date to the Texas Transportation Commission), Transportation Code.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.