By: Canales, Burrows, Moody, Geren, H.B. No. 4422
      King of Uvalde, et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on enhancing border security outcomes through
  public safety, technological, and transportation infrastructure
  improvements near Texas-Mexico border crossings.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITION. In this Act, "department" means the
  Texas Department of Transportation.
         SECTION 2.  STUDY. (a) The department shall conduct a study
  on public safety, border security, and transportation
  infrastructure from Texas-Mexico border crossings onto the state
  highway system to ensure safe, efficient, and streamlined
  commercial motor vehicle connectivity that amplify Operation Lone
  Star efforts.
         (b)  The department shall conduct the study in consultation
  with:
               (1)  the Department of Public Safety of the State of
  Texas;
               (2)  the Texas Military Department;
               (3)  the Texas A&M Transportation Institute;
               (4)  local law enforcement agencies near the
  Texas-Mexico border;
               (5)  representatives of county government from at least
  three noncontiguous counties that are:
                     (A)  adjacent to this state's international
  border with Mexico; or
                     (B)  adjacent to a county described by Paragraph
  (A) of this subdivision;
               (6)  representatives of the transportation industry
  determined relevant by the department; and
               (7)  an independent nonprofit applied research and
  development organization selected by the department.
         (c)  As part the study, the department shall:
               (1)  select multiple Texas-Mexico international border
  crossings that serve commercial vehicles, as determined by the
  department;
               (2)  analyze current transportation routes for
  commercial vehicles from border crossings selected under
  Subdivision (1) of this subsection onto the state highway system
  and identify ways to:
                     (A)  strengthen border security initiatives that
  support Operation Lone Star or similar state security efforts;
                     (B)  support law enforcement response efforts
  near border crossings to maximize:
                           (i)  oversight of border crossings;
                           (ii)  inspection of vehicles using the
  border crossing; and
                           (iii)  use of public safety resources;
                     (C)  enhance transportation infrastructure and
  road technology near border crossings to:
                           (i)  maximize the safety of communities
  located near the border and people using the highways near the
  border; and
                           (ii)  improve transportation efficiency and
  commercial motor vehicle connectivity; and
                     (D)  reduce traffic congestion along
  transportation routes while mitigating safety concerns;
               (3)  consider possible future transportation routes
  that will:
                     (A)  improve efficiency in the movement of
  commercial motor vehicles from border crossings onto the state
  highway system; and
                     (B)  enhance public safety, mitigate traffic
  congestion, and streamline commercial motor vehicle connectivity;
               (4)  assess current technologies used to promote border
  security efforts at commercial inspection facilities at or near
  border crossings and identify upgrades to existing technologies or
  alternative technologies that may improve border security efforts;
  and
               (5)  identify funding strategies and determine the
  amount of state money needed to improve the processing and flow of
  commercial motor vehicles at border crossings and improve
  transportation efficiency and commercial motor vehicle
  connectivity.
         SECTION 3.  REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2024, the
  department shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
  and the legislature a written report on the findings of the study
  conducted under this Act and any recommendations of the department.
  The report must include a review of the anticipated effects of the
  security and public safety improvements recommended by the study on
  international trade efforts with Mexico.
         SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2025.
         SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2023.