Bill Text: TX HB4021 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the financing of ports in the state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-09 - Placed on General State Calendar [HB4021 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB4021-Comm_Sub.html
85R21535 SLB-F | |||
By: Deshotel | H.B. No. 4021 | ||
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4021: | |||
By: Deshotel | C.S.H.B. No. 4021 |
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relating to the financing of ports in the state. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 55.001, Transportation Code, is amended | ||
by adding Subdivision (4-a) to read as follows: | ||
(4-a) "Port access improvement project" means the | ||
construction or improvement of public roadways that will enhance | ||
connectivity to ports. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 55.002(e), Transportation Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(e) The commission may use money from the Texas Mobility | ||
Fund to provide funding for a port access improvement project[ |
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SECTION 3. Section 55.006(a), Transportation Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) The committee consists of nine [ |
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appointed [ |
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follows: | ||
(1) one member from the Port of Houston Authority | ||
appointed by the commission; | ||
(2) three members who represent maritime ports on the | ||
upper Texas coast appointed by the commission; [ |
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(3) three members who represent maritime ports on the | ||
lower Texas coast appointed by the commission; | ||
(4) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; | ||
and | ||
(5) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of | ||
representatives. | ||
SECTION 4. Subtitle A, Title 4, Transportation Code, is | ||
amended by adding Chapter 56 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 56. FUNDING OF SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS | ||
Sec. 56.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Transportation | ||
Commission. | ||
(2) "Fund" means the ship channel improvement | ||
revolving fund. | ||
(3) "Navigation district" means a navigation district | ||
created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, | ||
Texas Constitution, and operating under Chapter 60, 61, 62, or 63, | ||
Water Code. | ||
Sec. 56.002. SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING FUND. | ||
(a) The ship channel improvement revolving fund is an account in | ||
the general revenue fund. The fund is administered by the | ||
commission. | ||
(b) The following money shall be credited to the fund: | ||
(1) money the commission receives as a gift, grant, or | ||
donation for a purpose of this chapter; | ||
(2) money appropriated to the commission for the | ||
purposes of this chapter; | ||
(3) money received by the commission for the repayment | ||
of a loan made by the program established under Section 56.003; and | ||
(4) interest earned on deposits and investments of the | ||
fund. | ||
(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the | ||
commission for the purposes of administering the fund and the | ||
program established under Section 56.003. | ||
(d) The financial transactions of the fund are subject to | ||
audit by the state auditor. | ||
Sec. 56.003. REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. (a) The commission | ||
by rule shall establish a revolving loan program to use money from | ||
the fund to finance qualified projects for navigation districts. | ||
(b) To be a qualified project, a project must: | ||
(1) deepen or widen a ship channel; | ||
(2) be authorized by the United States Congress; and | ||
(3) meet any other standards provided by commission | ||
rule. | ||
(c) A project for maintenance dredging is not a qualified | ||
project under this section. | ||
SECTION 5. 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, 2017. |