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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on enhancing border security outcomes through |
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public safety, technological, and transportation infrastructure |
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improvements near Texas-Mexico border crossings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "department" means the |
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Texas Department of Transportation. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The department, in consultation with |
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the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Military |
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Department, local law enforcement near the Texas-Mexico border, |
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Texas A&M Transportation Institute, the Southwest Research |
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Institute, and transportation industry representatives, shall |
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conduct a study on the public safety, border security, and |
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modernization of transportation infrastructure from Texas-Mexico |
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border crossings onto the state highway system for safe, efficient, |
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and streamlined commercial motor vehicle connectivity that amplify |
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Operation Lone Star efforts. |
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(b) The study shall: |
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(1) select multiple Texas-Mexico international border |
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crossings that serve commercial vehicles for this study; |
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(2) analyze current transportation routes for |
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commercial vehicles from border crossings onto the state highway |
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system and identify ways to: |
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(A) bolster border security initiatives that |
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support Operation Lone Star or similar state security efforts; |
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(B) fortify law enforcement response efforts |
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near border crossings that maximize oversight, inspection, and |
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public safety resources; |
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(C) enhance transportation road infrastructure |
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and road technology to maximize the safety of communities and |
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driving public; |
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(D) reduce traffic congestion along routes while |
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mitigating safety concerns; and |
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(E) bolster infrastructure and road technology |
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to improve efficient and streamlined connectivity; |
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(3) analyze possible future transportation routes for |
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greater efficiency in the movement of commercial vehicles from |
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border crossings onto the state highway system that enhance safety, |
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mitigate congestion, and streamline connectivity; |
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(4) assess current technologies utilized under |
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existing border security efforts at commercial inspection |
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facilities at or near border crossings and identify upgrades to or |
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alternative technologies that may improve border security efforts, |
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(5) identify funding strategies and funding amounts to |
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fill any gaps in transportation needs. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2024, the |
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department shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, |
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and the legislature a written report on the findings of the study |
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conducted under this Act and any associated recommendations. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2023. |