By: Anchia H.B. No. 3850
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the promotion of Texas airports in the international
marketplace.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 21.003(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.003(a). The aviation advisory committee consists of
[six] seven members appointed by the commission to advise the
commission and the department on aviation matters, one of which
must have ten years of experience in an executive position at an
international airport in a city with a population of 500,000 or
more.
SECTION 2. Sec. 21.101(a), Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 21.101(a). The department may loan or grant money to a
state agency with a governing board authorized to operate an
airport or to a governmental entity in this state to establish,
construct, reconstruct, enlarge, or repair an airport, airstrip, or
air navigational facility if:
(1) the money has been appropriated to the department
for that purpose;
(2) the Advisory Committee has reviewed the potential
of the proposed facility for capacity to serve international
commerce; and
(3)[(2)] providing the money will:
(A) best serve the public interest; and
(B) best discharge the governmental aeronautics
function of the state or its political subdivisions;
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 21.115 to read as follows:
Section 21.115. TEXAS GLOBAL AIRPORTS PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "program" means the Texas Global Airports Program.
(b) An interagency, public-private sector work group
entitled the Texas Global Airports Work Group is created to:
(1) develop or update a process to allow agencies and
business to work together to identify the key emerging global
markets for Texas products and services, and inbound foreign
investment in Texas businesses, and collaborate to identify
improvements to Texas' airports to better serve international
commerce;
(2) consult with local governments, educational
institutions, economic development and metropolitan planning
organizations, workforce development agencies, small business
agencies, chambers of commerce, trade associations, and other
stakeholders, to elicit recommendations on a statewide strategy to
enhance services out of Texas' global airports;
(3) consult with the top industry consumers of Texas
products and services in foreign nations, elicit recommendations
on improvements to Texas airports, including enhancements
targeting international shippers and passengers, which would
improve Texas' ability to compete with other states, provinces and
nations for international aviation business;
(4) Establish a "Texas Global Airports Fund," and
criteria and a procedure through which a facility may secure
certification at "Texas Global Airport," entitling the facility to
apply for funding for capital and other improvements from the fund.
(c) The task force shall meet at least once quarterly in
Austin to report on results of their consultations, new
international partnerships, and best practices and case studies
from other states, provinces and nations.
(d) No later than December 31, 2014, the Task Force shall
publish its findings and strategic recommendations, including
selected case studies from other nations, and a strategic plan to
boost total international activity at Texas airports by 20% by the
year 2025.
(e) In fulfilling its duties, the task force shall consider
opportunities to collaborate with the federal government,
including the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal
Aviation Administration, and other federal government
departments, and the effect of federal policies, including trade
agreements, upon Texas' business opportunities in the global
marketplace.
SECTION 4. 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, 2013.