Bill Text: TX SB731 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to funding for certain transportation infrastructure projects near the international border of this state; making an appropriation.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-02 - Referred to Transportation [SB731 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB731-Introduced.html

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84R7397 JRR-F
By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 731

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to funding for certain transportation infrastructure
projects near the international border of this state; making an
appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter Q to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER Q. COORDINATED BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 201.1001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Border region" means the portion of this state
that is not more than 100 miles from the border between Texas and
the United Mexican States.
(2) "Fund" means the coordinated border
infrastructure fund established under this subchapter.
Sec. 201.1002. COORDINATED BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE FUND. (a)
The coordinated border infrastructure fund is a special fund in the
state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund consists
of:
(1) funds appropriated by the legislature to the
credit of the fund;
(2) any federal funds received by the state deposited
to the credit of the fund;
(3) matching state funds in an amount required by
federal law;
(4) money from any other available source; and
(5) investment earnings on the money on deposit in the
fund.
(b) The department shall administer the fund and money in
the fund may be appropriated only for the purposes of this
subchapter.
(c) Section 404.071, Government Code, does not apply to the
fund.
Sec. 201.1003. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The department shall
develop policies and procedures to administer a program under this
subchapter to make grants to entities described by Subsection (b)
for:
(1) construction of and improvements to
transportation and supporting infrastructure in the border region
that facilitate cross-border motor vehicle, cargo, and rail
movement, including highway and rail infrastructure and related
public safety and safety enforcement facilities;
(2) operational improvements in the border region,
including improvements relating to electronic data interchange and
use of telecommunications, that expedite cross-border motor
vehicle, cargo, and rail movement;
(3) modifications to regulatory procedures to
expedite safe and efficient cross-border motor vehicle, cargo, and
rail movement; or
(4) international coordination of transportation
planning, programming, and border operation with the United Mexican
States that relate to expediting cross-border motor vehicle, cargo,
and rail movement.
(b) The department may make a grant under the program only
to:
(1) a governmental entity located in a department
district that is adjacent to the border between this state and the
United Mexican States; or
(2) a private entity that owns or operates an
international port of entry between this state and the United
Mexican States.
Sec. 201.1004. MATCHING FUNDS. To be eligible to receive a
grant under the program, matching funds must be provided, from any
source, in an amount determined by the department that is equal to
at least 20 percent of the amount of the grant.
Sec. 201.1005. CERTAIN PROJECTS. An entity described by
Section 201.1003(b) may construct a project in the United Mexican
States using funds provided under this subchapter if:
(1) the project directly and predominantly
facilitates cross-border motor vehicle and cargo movement at an
international port of entry into the border region; and
(2) before receiving funds under this subchapter, the
United Mexican States or a political subdivision of the United
Mexican States that is responsible for the operation of the
facility to be constructed provides satisfactory assurances to the
department that any facility constructed with the funds will be:
(A) constructed in accordance with standards
equivalent to applicable standards in this state; and
(B) properly maintained and used over the life
cycle of the facility for the purpose described in Subdivision (1).
Sec. 201.1006. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules to
implement this subchapter.
SECTION 2. The amount of $200 million is appropriated from
the general revenue fund for deposit into the coordinated border
infrastructure fund, as created by this Act, and the amount of $200
million is appropriated from the coordinated border infrastructure
fund to the Texas Department of Transportation for the purpose of
implementing Subchapter Q, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, as
added by this Act, for the state fiscal biennium beginning
September 1, 2015.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.