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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 shall conduct a study |
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on public safety, border security, and transportation |
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infrastructure from Texas-Mexico border crossings onto the state |
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highway system to ensure safe, efficient, and streamlined |
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commercial motor vehicle connectivity that amplify Operation Lone |
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Star efforts. |
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(b) The department shall conduct the study in consultation |
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with: |
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(1) the Department of Public Safety of the State of |
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Texas; |
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(2) the Texas Military Department; |
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(3) the Texas A&M Transportation Institute; |
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(4) local law enforcement agencies near the |
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Texas-Mexico border; |
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(5) representatives of county government from at least |
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three noncontiguous counties that are: |
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(A) adjacent to this state's international |
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border with Mexico; or |
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(B) adjacent to a county described by Paragraph |
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(A) of this subdivision; |
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(6) representatives of the transportation industry |
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determined relevant by the department; and |
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(7) an independent nonprofit applied research and |
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development organization selected by the department. |
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(c) As part the study, the department shall: |
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(1) select multiple Texas-Mexico international border |
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crossings that serve commercial vehicles, as determined by the |
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department; |
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(2) analyze current transportation routes for |
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commercial vehicles from border crossings selected under |
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Subdivision (1) of this subsection onto the state highway system |
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and identify ways to: |
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(A) strengthen border security initiatives that |
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support Operation Lone Star or similar state security efforts; |
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(B) support law enforcement response efforts |
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near border crossings to maximize: |
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(i) oversight of border crossings; |
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(ii) inspection of vehicles using the |
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border crossing; and |
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(iii) use of public safety resources; |
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(C) enhance transportation infrastructure and |
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road technology near border crossings to: |
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(i) maximize the safety of communities |
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located near the border and people using the highways near the |
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border; and |
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(ii) improve transportation efficiency and |
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commercial motor vehicle connectivity; and |
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(D) reduce traffic congestion along |
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transportation routes while mitigating safety concerns; |
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(3) consider possible future transportation routes |
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that will: |
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(A) improve efficiency in the movement of |
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commercial motor vehicles from border crossings onto the state |
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highway system; and |
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(B) enhance public safety, mitigate traffic |
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congestion, and streamline commercial motor vehicle connectivity; |
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(4) assess current technologies used to promote border |
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security efforts at commercial inspection facilities at or near |
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border crossings and identify upgrades to existing technologies or |
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alternative technologies that may improve border security efforts; |
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and |
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(5) identify funding strategies and determine the |
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amount of state money needed to improve the processing and flow of |
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commercial motor vehicles at border crossings and improve |
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transportation efficiency and commercial motor vehicle |
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connectivity. |
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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 recommendations of the department. |
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The report must include a review of the anticipated effects of the |
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security and public safety improvements recommended by the study on |
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international trade efforts with Mexico. |
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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. |
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* * * * * |