S.B. No. 1474
AN ACT
relating to the I-27 Advisory Committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 201.623 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.623. I-27 ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Advisory committee" means the I-27 Advisory
Committee established under this section.
(2) "Feasibility study" means the study on the
Ports-to-Plains Corridor conducted by the department as required by
Chapter 756 (H.B. 1079), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2019.
(3) "Ports-to-Plains Corridor" means the highways
designated as the Ports-to-Plains Corridor under Section 225.069.
(b) The I-27 Advisory Committee is established to:
(1) provide the department with information on
concerns and interests along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor; and
(2) advise the department on transportation
improvements impacting the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
(c) The advisory committee is composed of:
(1) 10 members, one of whom represents each of the
following counties and is the county judge of the county or an
elected county official or the administrator of the county road
department designated by the county judge of the county:
(A) Dallam County;
(B) Howard County;
(C) Lubbock County;
(D) Midland County;
(E) Moore County;
(F) Potter County;
(G) Sherman County;
(H) Tom Green County;
(I) Val Verde County; and
(J) Webb County;
(2) seven members, one of whom represents each of the
following municipalities and is the mayor of the municipality or
the city manager or an assistant city manager designated by the
mayor of the municipality:
(A) Amarillo;
(B) Big Spring;
(C) Del Rio;
(D) Laredo;
(E) Lubbock;
(F) Midland; and
(G) San Angelo;
(3) three members who are economic development
professionals, to be selected based on geographic segments that
were established for the feasibility study;
(4) one member who is a business representative from
the agriculture industry;
(5) one member who is a business representative from
the international trade industry; and
(6) one member who is a business representative from
the energy industry.
(d) The members of the advisory committee described by
Subsection (c)(2) shall appoint the members of the advisory
committee described by Subsections (c)(3), (4), (5), and (6) by
majority vote.
(e) An advisory committee member serves until the member:
(1) ceases to hold the underlying position that
qualifies the member for service on the committee; or
(2) resigns.
(f) A vacancy on the advisory committee is filled:
(1) for a vacancy for a position qualified under
Subsection (c)(1) or (2), by the person holding the elected
position vacated by the former member or another person designated
by the person holding the elected position vacated by the former
member, in accordance with Subsection (c)(1) or (2), as applicable;
and
(2) for a vacancy for a position described by
Subsection (c)(3), (4), (5), or (6), by majority vote of the
advisory committee members described by Subsection (c)(2).
(g) The advisory committee shall elect by majority vote of
the committee:
(1) a chair to serve as the committee's presiding
officer; and
(2) a vice-chair to serve as the committee's presiding
officer in the absence of the chair.
(h) The advisory committee shall meet at least twice each
state fiscal year and at such other times as requested by the
department or the chair. The advisory committee may meet remotely
or by teleconference as determined by the chair or the department.
(i) An advisory committee member is not entitled to receive
compensation for service on the committee or reimbursement for
expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as a member
of the committee.
(j) The commission may adopt rules to govern the operations
of the committee that are consistent with existing commission rules
and do not conflict with this section.
(k) All advisory committee meetings, whether remote or in
person, must be open to the public.
(l) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
advisory committee.
SECTION 2. (a) The members of the I-27 Advisory Committee
established under Section 201.623, Transportation Code, as added by
this Act, described by Section 201.623(c)(2), Transportation Code,
as added by this Act, shall make the appointments required by that
section not later than October 1, 2021.
(b) The I-27 Advisory Committee established under Section
201.623, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, shall meet on or
before the 30th day after the completion of appointments under
Subsection (a) of this section.
SECTION 3. 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, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1474 passed the Senate on
April 23, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1474 passed the House on
May 18, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 121, Nays 16, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor