By: Blanco S.B. No. 1907
 
  (Martinez)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a feasibility study on the colocation of federal and
  state motor vehicle inspection facilities at ports of entry.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
               (1)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
  Transportation.
               (2)  "Institute" means the Texas A&M Transportation
  Institute.
               (3)  "Port of entry" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 201.710, Transportation Code.
         SECTION 2.  FEASIBILITY STUDY ON COLOCATED INSPECTION PORTS.
  (a) The institute, in consultation with the department and the
  Department of Public Safety, shall conduct a feasibility study on
  erecting and maintaining a colocated federal and state inspection
  facility at each port of entry in this state for the inspection of
  motor vehicles for compliance with federal and state commercial
  motor vehicle regulations. The study must include:
               (1)  a summary of:
                     (A)  past efforts by the Department of Public
  Safety and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to
  maintain colocated federal and state inspection facilities at each
  port of entry;
                     (B)  any current efforts to colocate or separate
  federal and state inspection facilities at ports of entry in other
  states;
                     (C)  current wait times at inspection facilities
  at each port of entry;
                     (D)  current priorities and expectations of the
  department and the Department of Public Safety regarding motor
  vehicle inspections at ports of entry;
                     (E)  the department's and Department of Public
  Safety's perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of
  colocated federal and state inspection facilities; and
                     (F)  the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
  Administration's perspective on the advantages and disadvantages
  of colocated federal and state inspection facilities, as solicited
  by the institute under Subsection (b) of this section;
               (2)  potential scenarios for the colocation of federal
  and state inspection facilities at each port of entry in this state
  and an analysis of each scenario's advantages and disadvantages;
               (3)  an analysis of potential economic benefits of
  colocating federal and state inspection facilities at each port of
  entry; and
               (4)  an analysis of the potential effects of colocating
  federal and state inspection facilities at each point of entry on
  wait times at inspection facilities.
         (b)  In conducting the study under this section, the
  institute shall solicit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
  Administration's perspective on the advantages and disadvantages
  of colocated federal and state inspection facilities.
         SECTION 3.  REPORT. (a) Before the study under Section 2 of
  this Act is completed, the institute shall contact the Federal
  Motor Carrier Safety Administration to arrange receipt of the
  report required by this subsection. Not later than December 1,
  2022, the institute shall report the results of the study conducted
  under Section 2 of this Act and any recommendations to the Federal
  Motor Carrier Safety Administration in the manner and format
  requested by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
         (b)  Not later than December 1, 2022, the institute shall
  submit to the members of the legislature a report on the results of
  the study conducted under Section 2 of this Act and any
  recommendations for legislative or other action.
         SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires January 1,
  2023.
         SECTION 5.  IMPLEMENTATION. The Texas A&M Transportation
  Institute is required to implement this Act only if the legislature
  appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the
  legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute may, but is not
  required to, implement this Act using other appropriations
  available for the purpose.
         SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
  1, 2021.