87R11385 SRA-D
 
  By: Price H.B. No. 3675
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
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 an enhanced
  understanding of public, business, and private concerns relating to
  the Ports-to-Plains Corridor;
               (2)  facilitate the department's communications and
  project development objectives relating to the Ports-to-Plains
  Corridor; and 
               (3)  encourage greater cooperation between the
  department and affected parties during the planning and development
  of projects relating to the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
         (c)  The advisory committee shall regularly provide advice
  and recommendations to the department on transportation
  improvements to be made in the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, including
  on:
               (1)  facilities to be included in a development plan
  for the Ports-to-Plains Corridor;
               (2)  upgrades and other improvements to be made to
  existing facilities located in the Ports-to-Plains Corridor; and
               (3)  other corridor-level planning and development
  matters as requested by the department. 
         (d)  In developing advice and recommendations, the advisory
  committee shall:
               (1)  evaluate economic, political, societal, and
  demographic population trends affecting transportation; and 
               (2)  consider existing facilities, upgrades to
  existing facilities, new and planned facilities, multimodal
  solutions, and available financing options.
         (e)  The advisory committee is composed of:
               (1)  three county judges representing counties along
  the Ports-to-Plains Corridor to be selected based on geographic
  segments that were established for the feasibility study;
               (2)  the mayors of Amarillo, Midland, Lubbock, San
  Angelo, Del Rio, and Laredo;
               (3)  three economic development professionals to be
  selected based on geographic segments that were established for the
  feasibility study;
               (4)  one business representative from the agriculture
  industry;
               (5)  one business representative from the
  international trade industry;
               (6)  one business representative from the energy
  industry; 
               (7)  one member from a metropolitan planning
  organization representing a region along the Ports-to-Plains
  Corridor; and
               (8)  one member of the state legislature.
         (f)  The members of the advisory committee described by
  Subsection (e)(2) shall appoint the remaining members of the
  advisory committee by majority vote. 
         (g)  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.
         (h)  A vacancy on the advisory committee is filled:
               (1)  for a vacancy for a position qualified under
  Subsection (e)(2), by the person holding the elected position
  vacated by the former member; and
               (2)  for any other position, by majority vote of the
  advisory committee members described by Subsection (e)(2).
         (i)  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.
         (j)  The advisory committee shall meet at least once each
  calendar 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.
         (k)  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.
         (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(e)(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.