81R17631 HLT-F
By: Ortiz, Jr. H.B. No. 3722
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3722:
By: Pickett C.S.H.B. No. 3722
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County,
Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 397, Acts of the 68th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1983, is amended by adding Sections 1A, 4B, and 4C
to read as follows:
Sec. 1A. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Authority" means the Port of Corpus Christi
Authority of Nueces County, Texas.
(2) "Port commission" means the governing body of the
Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County, Texas.
(3) "Port commissioner" means a member of the port
commission.
Sec. 4B. ELECTIONS. An election relating to the authority
shall be held in the authority as a whole, and not on a
county-by-county basis.
Sec. 4C. SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. (a) The port
commission may adopt, amend, repeal, and enforce an ordinance,
rule, or police regulation necessary to:
(1) protect, secure, and defend the ship channels and
waterways in the jurisdiction of the authority and facilities
served by those ship channels and waterways;
(2) promote the health, safety, and general welfare of
any person using the ship channels and waterways in the
jurisdiction of the authority; or
(3) comply with a federal law or regulation or
implement a directive or standard of the federal government,
including the United States Department of Homeland Security and the
United States Coast Guard, relating to securing ship channels and
waterways and facilities served by ship channels and waterways and
preventing terrorist attacks on ship channels, waterways,
associated maritime facilities, and other facilities served by ship
channels and waterways.
(b) In the enforcement of an authority ordinance, rule, or
police regulation, a sheriff, constable, or other duly constituted
peace officer of this state or a peace officer employed or appointed
by the port commission may make arrests, serve criminal warrants,
subpoenas, or writs, and perform any other service or duty that may
be performed by any sheriff, constable, or other duly constituted
peace officer of this state in enforcing other laws of this state.
(c) In adopting an ordinance, rule, or police regulation
under Subsection (a) of this section, the port commission shall
comply with the procedures provided by Sections 60.074 and 60.075,
Water Code.
(d) The authority may enter into an interlocal agreement
with this state or a county, municipality, or other political
subdivision of this state to jointly provide, and share the costs
of, security for the ship channels and waterways in the
jurisdiction of the authority.
(e) To protect the public interest, the authority may
contract with a qualified party, including the federal government,
Nueces County, or San Patricio County, for the provision of law
enforcement services in all or part of the jurisdiction of the
authority.
SECTION 2. 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, 2009.