H.B. No. 4422
AN ACT
relating to a study on enhancing border security outcomes through
public safety, technological, and transportation infrastructure
improvements near Texas-Mexico border crossings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "department" means the
Texas Department of Transportation.
SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The department shall conduct a study
on public safety, border security, and transportation
infrastructure from Texas-Mexico border crossings onto the state
highway system to ensure safe, efficient, and streamlined
commercial motor vehicle connectivity that amplify Operation Lone
Star efforts.
(b) The department shall conduct the study in consultation
with:
(1) the Department of Public Safety of the State of
Texas;
(2) the Texas Military Department;
(3) the Texas A&M Transportation Institute;
(4) local law enforcement agencies near the
Texas-Mexico border;
(5) representatives of county government from at least
three noncontiguous counties that are:
(A) adjacent to this state's international
border with Mexico; or
(B) adjacent to a county described by Paragraph
(A) of this subdivision;
(6) representatives of the transportation industry
determined relevant by the department; and
(7) an independent nonprofit applied research and
development organization selected by the department.
(c) As part the study, the department shall:
(1) select multiple Texas-Mexico international border
crossings that serve commercial vehicles, as determined by the
department;
(2) analyze current transportation routes for
commercial vehicles from border crossings selected under
Subdivision (1) of this subsection onto the state highway system
and identify ways to:
(A) strengthen border security initiatives that
support Operation Lone Star or similar state security efforts;
(B) support law enforcement response efforts
near border crossings to maximize:
(i) oversight of border crossings;
(ii) inspection of vehicles using the
border crossing; and
(iii) use of public safety resources;
(C) enhance transportation infrastructure and
road technology near border crossings to:
(i) maximize the safety of communities
located near the border and people using the highways near the
border; and
(ii) improve transportation efficiency and
commercial motor vehicle connectivity; and
(D) reduce traffic congestion along
transportation routes while mitigating safety concerns;
(3) consider possible future transportation routes
that will:
(A) improve efficiency in the movement of
commercial motor vehicles from border crossings onto the state
highway system; and
(B) enhance public safety, mitigate traffic
congestion, and streamline commercial motor vehicle connectivity;
(4) assess current technologies used to promote border
security efforts at commercial inspection facilities at or near
border crossings and identify upgrades to existing technologies or
alternative technologies that may improve border security efforts;
and
(5) identify funding strategies and determine the
amount of state money needed to improve the processing and flow of
commercial motor vehicles at border crossings and improve
transportation efficiency and commercial motor vehicle
connectivity.
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2024, the
department shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
and the legislature a written report on the findings of the study
conducted under this Act and any recommendations of the department.
The report must include a review of the anticipated effects of the
security and public safety improvements recommended by the study on
international trade efforts with Mexico.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2025.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 4422 was passed by the House on April
18, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 4422 was passed by the Senate on May
12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor