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AN ACT
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relating to motor vehicle inspection facilities near the border of |
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this state and Mexico. |
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�������BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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�������SECTION�1.��Section 201.613, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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�������Sec.�201.613.��ONE-STOP BORDER INSPECTION FACILITIES |
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[STATIONS]. �(a) The department shall erect and maintain border |
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[choose a location for an] inspection facilities [station] along a |
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major highway at or near a border crossing from Mexico in the Pharr |
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[Brownsville], [in] Laredo, and [in] El Paso districts for the |
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inspection of motor vehicles for compliance with federal and state |
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commercial motor vehicle regulations [so that all federal, state,
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and municipal agencies that regulate the passage of persons or
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vehicles across the border at that border crossing may be located in
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one place]. |
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�������(b)��If a facility that serves a bridge that had more than |
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900,000 commercial border crossings during the state fiscal year |
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ending August 31, 2002, is to be located in a municipality or a |
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municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction, the municipality may |
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choose the location of the facility within the municipality or the |
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municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The municipality |
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shall choose a location before the later of the 180th day after: |
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�������������(1)��the date the department makes a request for a |
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location; or |
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�������������(2)��the effective date of the Act enacting this |
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provision. |
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�������(c)��One or more inspection facilities may be constructed in |
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a municipality described by this section. |
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�������(d)��In determining the location for a border inspection |
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facility under Subsection (b), the municipality shall: |
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�������������(1)��obtain and pay for an independent study completed |
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by a university that conducts transportation studies or any other |
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entity that conducts transportation studies to identify commercial |
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truck traffic patterns for the location at which the facility is to |
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be located to ensure that the location has adequate capacity to |
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conduct a sufficient number of meaningful vehicle safety |
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inspections in compliance with 49 U.S.C. Section 13902; |
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�������������(2)��choose a location that does not impair the receipt |
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of federal or state funds for implementation of this section; |
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�������������(3)��choose a location within one mile of an |
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international border; |
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�������������(4)��choose a location within one mile of the U.S. |
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Customs and Border Protection federal port of entry; and |
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�������������(5)��choose a location that provides a dedicated route |
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for commercial vehicles coming from the federal port of entry to the |
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state port of entry commercial vehicle inspection station. |
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�������(e)��To the extent the department considers appropriate to |
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expedite commerce, the department shall provide for implementation |
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by the appropriate agencies of the use of Intelligent |
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Transportation Systems for Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO) |
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in: |
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�������������(1)��any new commercial motor vehicle inspection |
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facility constructed; and |
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�������������(2)��any existing facility to which this section |
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applies. |
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�������(f)��Implementation of systems under Subsection (e) must be |
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based on the Texas ITS/CVO business plan prepared by the |
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department, the Department of Public Safety, and the comptroller. |
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The department shall coordinate with other state and federal |
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transportation officials to develop interoperability standards for |
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the systems. |
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�������(g)��In implementing systems under Subsection (e) in the |
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construction of a facility, the department to the greatest extent |
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possible shall: |
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�������������(1)��enhance efficiency and reduce complexity for motor |
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carriers by providing: |
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�������������������(A)��a single point of contact between carriers |
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and state and federal officials regulating the carriers; and |
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�������������������(B)��a single point of information, available to |
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wireless access, about federal and state regulatory and enforcement |
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requirements; |
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�������������(2)��prevent duplication of state and federal |
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procedures and locations for regulatory and enforcement |
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activities, including consolidation of collection of applicable |
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fees; |
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�������������(3)��link information systems of the department, the |
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Department of Public Safety, the comptroller, and, to the extent |
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possible, the United States Department of Transportation and other |
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appropriate regulatory and enforcement entities; and |
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�������������(4)��take other necessary action to: |
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�������������������(A)��facilitate the flow of commerce; |
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�������������������(B)��assist federal interdiction efforts; |
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�������������������(C)��protect the environment by reducing idling |
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time of commercial motor vehicles at the facilities; |
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�������������������(D)��prevent highway damage caused by overweight |
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commercial motor vehicles; and |
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�������������������(E)��seek federal funds to assist in the |
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implementation of this section.��[The department shall establish
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and maintain an inspection station at the locations chosen in
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Subsection (a) only if the federal agencies involved in the
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regulation of the passage of persons or vehicles at that border
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crossing agree to the design of the facility at each location and
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agree to use the facility at each location if built.
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�������[(c)
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The department may enter into agreements with federal,
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state, and municipal agencies to accomplish the purpose of this
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section. An agreement may involve the lease of office space at the
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inspection station by the department to the agency.] |
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�������SECTION�2.��The Texas Department of Transportation shall |
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spend the money appropriated during the 76th Legislature for |
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Section 201.613, Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 1527, |
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Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, or money |
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received from the federal government to establish the border |
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inspection facilities under Section 201.613, Transportation Code, |
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as amended by this Act. |
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�������SECTION�3.��This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.��If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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���President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House����� |
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�������I certify that H.B. No. 3594 was passed by the House on May 8, |
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2007, by the following vote:��Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 3594 on May 25, 2007, by the following vote:��Yeas 137, Nays 0, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House��� |
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�������I certify that H.B. No. 3594 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 22, 2007, by the following vote:��Yeas 29, Nays |
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1. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate��� |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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����������������Date������� |
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�������� __________________ |
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��������������Governor������� |