82R2789 JXC-D
By: Deshotel H.B. No. 699
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Port Authority Advisory Committee and funding of
port security, transportation, and facility projects and port
studies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 55.001(5), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(5) "Port security, transportation, or facility
project" means a project that is necessary or convenient for the
proper operation of a maritime port and that will improve the
security, movement, and intermodal transportation of cargo or
passengers in commerce and trade.
SECTION 2. Section 55.002(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The commission may by rule establish matching fund
requirements for receiving money from the fund [department may not
fund a port security, transportation, or facility project unless an
amount at least equal to the amount provided by the department is
invested in the project by a port authority or navigation
district].
SECTION 3. Section 55.006(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The committee consists of seven members appointed by the
commission. The members shall be appointed as follows:
(1) one member from the Port of Houston Authority;
(2) three members who represent maritime ports on the
upper Texas coast; and
(3) three members who represent maritime ports on the
lower Texas coast.
SECTION 4. Section 55.007, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 55.007. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. The committee shall:
(1) prepare a port mission plan;
(2) review each project eligible to be funded under
this chapter and make recommendations for approval or disapproval
to the department;
(3) not later than December 1 of each even-numbered
year, prepare and submit to the commission a report for
distribution to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the
speaker of the house of representatives on the state of maritime
ports in this state, including:
(A) information regarding types of cargo passing
through maritime ports;
(B) information regarding employment at maritime
ports;
(C) information regarding tax revenues from
maritime port activities;
(D) any other information on the economic impact
of port activities that the committee considers relevant; and
(E) [maintain trade data information that will
assist ports in this state and international trade;
[(4) annually prepare] a list of projects that have
been recommended by the committee, including:
(i) [(A)] the recommended funding level
for each project; and
(ii) [(B)] if staged implementation of the
project is appropriate, the funding requirements for each stage;
and
(4) [(5)] advise the commission and the department on
matters relating to port authorities.
SECTION 5. Section 55.008, Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.