By: Perry, Gutierrez S.B. No. 1474
      Seliger
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the I-27 Advisory Committee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 201.623 to read as follows:
         Sec. 201.623.  I-27 ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Advisory committee" means the I-27 Advisory
  Committee established under this section.
               (2)  "Feasibility study" means the study on the
  Ports-to-Plains Corridor conducted by the department as required by
  Chapter 756 (H.B. 1079), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2019.
               (3)  "Ports-to-Plains Corridor" means the highways
  designated as the Ports-to-Plains Corridor under Section 225.069.
         (b)  The I-27 Advisory Committee is established to:
               (1)  provide the department with information on
  concerns and interests along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor; and
               (2)  advise the department on transportation
  improvements impacting the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
         (c)  The advisory committee is composed of:
               (1)  10 members, one of whom represents each of the
  following counties and is the county judge of the county or an
  elected county official or the administrator of the county road
  department designated by the county judge of the county:
                     (A)  Dallam County;
                     (B)  Howard County;
                     (C)  Lubbock County;
                     (D)  Midland County;
                     (E)  Moore County;
                     (F)  Potter County;
                     (G)  Sherman County;
                     (H)  Tom Green County;
                     (I)  Val Verde County; and
                     (J)  Webb County;
               (2)  seven members, one of whom represents each of the
  following municipalities and is the mayor of the municipality or
  the city manager or an assistant city manager designated by the
  mayor of the municipality:
                     (A)  Amarillo;
                     (B)  Big Spring;
                     (C)  Del Rio;
                     (D)  Laredo;
                     (E)  Lubbock;
                     (F)  Midland; and
                     (G)  San Angelo;
               (3)  three members who are economic development
  professionals, to be selected based on geographic segments that
  were established for the feasibility study;
               (4)  one member who is a business representative from
  the agriculture industry;
               (5)  one member who is a business representative from
  the international trade industry; and
               (6)  one member who is a business representative from
  the energy industry.
         (d)  The members of the advisory committee described by
  Subsection (c)(2) shall appoint the members of the advisory
  committee described by Subsections (c)(3), (4), (5), and (6) by
  majority vote. 
         (e)  An advisory committee member serves until the member:
               (1)  ceases to hold the underlying position that
  qualifies the member for service on the committee; or
               (2)  resigns.
         (f)  A vacancy on the advisory committee is filled:
               (1)  for a vacancy for a position qualified under
  Subsection (c)(1) or (2), by the person holding the elected
  position vacated by the former member or another person designated
  by the person holding the elected position vacated by the former
  member, in accordance with Subsection (c)(1) or (2), as applicable;
  and
               (2)  for a vacancy for a position described by
  Subsection (c)(3), (4), (5), or (6), by majority vote of the
  advisory committee members described by Subsection (c)(2).
         (g)  The advisory committee shall elect by majority vote of
  the committee:
               (1)  a chair to serve as the committee's presiding
  officer; and
               (2)  a vice-chair to serve as the committee's presiding
  officer in the absence of the chair.
         (h)  The advisory committee shall meet at least twice each
  state fiscal year and at such other times as requested by the
  department or the chair. The advisory committee may meet remotely
  or by teleconference as determined by the chair or the department.
         (i)  An advisory committee member is not entitled to receive
  compensation for service on the committee or reimbursement for
  expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as a member
  of the committee.
         (j)  The commission may adopt rules to govern the operations
  of the committee that are consistent with existing commission rules
  and do not conflict with this section.
         (k)  All advisory committee meetings, whether remote or in
  person, must be open to the public.
         (l)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
  advisory committee.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The members of the I-27 Advisory Committee
  established under Section 201.623, Transportation Code, as added by
  this Act, described by Section 201.623(c)(2), Transportation Code,
  as added by this Act, shall make the appointments required by that
  section not later than October 1, 2021.
         (b)  The I-27 Advisory Committee established under Section
  201.623, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, shall meet on or
  before the 30th day after the completion of appointments under
  Subsection (a) of this section.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.