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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding the public health considerations of |
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transportation planning. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The joint interim |
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committee on the public health considerations of transportation |
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planning is established to study and review the methods the Texas |
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Department of Transportation uses to integrate public health |
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considerations into major highway project planning and general |
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department policy. |
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(b) The study must consider: |
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(1) the extent to which the Texas Department of |
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Transportation, when planning major highway projects, currently |
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considers the effects increased traffic capacity may have on the |
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health of adjacent populations; and |
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(2) methods that may be employed by the Texas |
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Department of Transportation to incorporate public health |
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considerations into major highway project planning, including: |
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(A) conducting health effects assessments to |
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determine the effects a major highway project may have on the health |
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of adjacent populations and publishing the resulting findings; |
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(B) notifying affected communities when a major |
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highway project may pose a public health risk to vulnerable |
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populations concentrated in nearby areas, such as at schools; and |
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(C) considering alternative multimodal |
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transportation options to achieve the stated goal of a |
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transportation improvement project. |
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(c) The joint interim committee shall be composed of: |
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(1) six members of the senate transportation committee |
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appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(2) three members of the house transportation |
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committee appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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and |
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(3) three members of the house environmental |
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regulation committee appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives. |
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(d) 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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committee members. |
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(e) The joint interim committee has all other powers and |
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duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the |
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senate and house of representatives by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, |
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Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees |
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on administration. |
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(f) Not later than January 1, 2021, the joint interim |
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committee shall report the committee's findings and |
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recommendations to the governor and the members of the legislature. |
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SECTION 2. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The committee is |
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abolished and this Act expires January 12, 2021. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2019. |