Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4021 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	85R21535 SLB-F
2	1		By: Deshotel H.B. No. 4021
3		-	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4021:
4		-	By: Deshotel C.S.H.B. No. 4021
5	2
6	3
7	4		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	5		AN ACT
9	6		relating to the financing of ports in the state.
10	7		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11		-	SECTION 1. Section 55.001, Transportation Code, is amended
12		-	by adding Subdivision (~~4-a~~) to read as follows:
13		-	(~~4-a~~) "Port access improvement project" means the
	8	+	SECTION 1. Section 55.001, Transportation Code, is amended by
	9	+	adding Subdivision (6) to read as follows:
	10	+	(6) "Port access improvement project" means the
14	11		construction or improvement of public roadways that will enhance
15	12		connectivity to ports.
16	13		SECTION 2. Section 55.002(e), Transportation Code, is
17	14		amended to read as follows:
18	15		(e) The commission may use money from the Texas Mobility
19	16		Fund to provide funding for a port access improvement project[,
20	17		including through a loan, for a port security project, a port
21	18		transportation project, or a project eligible for funding under
22	19		Subsection (c)].
23		-	SECTION 3. Section 55.006(a), Transportation Code, is
24		-	amended to read as follows:
25		-	(a) The committee consists of nine [seven] members
26		-	appointed [by the commission. The members shall be appointed] as
27		-	follows:
28		-	(1) one member from the Port of Houston Authority
29		-	appointed by the commission;
30		-	(2) three members who represent maritime ports on the
31		-	upper Texas coast appointed by the commission; [and]
32		-	(3) three members who represent maritime ports on the
33		-	lower Texas coast appointed by the commission;
34		-	(4) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
35		-	and
36		-	(5) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
37		-	representatives.
38		-	SECTION 4. Subtitle A, Title 4, Transportation Code, is
	20	+	SECTION 3. Subtitle A, Title 4, Transportation Code, is
39	21		amended by adding Chapter 56 to read as follows:
40	22		CHAPTER 56. FUNDING OF SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS
41	23		Sec. 56.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
42	24		(1) "Commission" means the Texas Transportation
43	25		Commission.
44		-	(2) "Fund" means the ship channel improvement
	26	+	(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of
	27	+	Transportation.
	28	+	(3) "Fund" means the ship channel improvement
45	29		revolving fund.
46		-	(3) "Navigation district" means a navigation district
	30	+	(4) "Navigation district" means a navigation district
47	31		created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI,
48	32		Texas Constitution, and operating under Chapter 60, 61, 62, or 63,
49	33		Water Code.
50		-	Sec. 56.002. SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING FUND.
51		-	(a) The ship channel improvement revolving fund is an account in
52		-	the general revenue fund. The fund is administered by the
53		-	commission.
54		-	(b) The following money shall be credited to the fund:
55		-	(1) money the commission receives as a gift, grant, or
56		-	donation for a purpose of this chapter;
57		-	(2) money appropriated to the commission for the
58		-	purposes of this chapter;
59		-	(3) money received by the commission for the repayment
60		-	of a loan made by the program established under Section 56.003; and
61		-	(4) interest earned on deposits and investments of the
62		-	fund.
63		-	(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the
64		-	commission for the purposes of administering the fund and the
65		-	program established under Section 56.003.
66		-	(d) The financial transactions of the fund are subject to
67		-	audit by the state auditor.
68		-	Sec. 56.003. REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. (a) The commission
69		-	by rule shall establish a revolving loan program to use money from
70		-	the fund to finance qualified projects for navigation districts.
71		-	(b) To be a qualified project, a project must:
72		-	(1) deepen or widen a ship channel;
73		-	(2) be authorized by the United States Congress; and
74		-	(3) meet any other standards provided by commission
75		-	rule.
76		-	(c) A project for maintenance dredging is not a qualified
77		-	project under this section.
78		-	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	34	+	Sec. 56.002. SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING FUND. The
	35	+	ship channel improvement revolving fund is an account in the
	36	+	general revenue fund. The fund is administered by the department.
	37	+	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
79	38		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
80	39		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
81	40		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
82	41		Act takes effect September 1, 2017.