HBA-NRS C.S.S.B. 195 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 195
By: Lucio
Transportation
5/11/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1999, the Texas Transportation Commission (commission) established a
temporary Border Trade Transportation Task Force to prioritize existing
border transportation projects needed to handle increased international
trade. C.S.S.B. 195 establishes a Border Trade Advisory Committee as an
official advisory committee to the commission. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Transportation Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 201.114, Transportation Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 195 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Transportation Commission (commission) to establish the Border Trade
Advisory Committee (committee) to define and to develop a strategy and to
make recommendations to the commission for addressing the highest priority
border trade transportation challenges. In determining action to be taken
on the recommendations, the bill requires the commission to consider the
importance of trade with the United Mexican States, the potential sources
of infrastructure funding at border ports, and the value of trade activity
in the Texas Department of Transportation's districts adjacent to the
border with the United Mexican States. The bill authorizes the commission
to adopt rules governing the committee.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B. 195 modifies the original bill by removing the provision that
exempted the Border Trade Advisory Committee from the provisions that
require a state agency that is advised by an advisory committee to
establish by rule a date on which the committee will automatically be
abolished.