HBA-TYH H.B. 1915 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1915 By: Oliveira Financial Institutions 3/14/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The House Committee on Economic Development (committee) studied the North American Free Trade Agreement's effects on Texas during the interim between the 75th and 76th Legislatures. Findings revealed delays currently exist at the Texas-Mexico border ports of entry because of inadequate infrastructure. This may be causing negative economic repercussions across the state as goods are unable to move freely across the international border with Mexico, the state's largest trading partner. A large investment will be necessary to improve border highway infrastructure. H.B. 1915 authorizes the Texas Public Finance Authority to issue general obligation bonds and distribute the bond proceeds to the Texas Department of Transportation to be used in the development, construction, and improvement of streets, highways, and facilities within 30 miles of an international port of entry located on the Texas-Mexico border. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.613, as follows: Sec. 201.613. INTERNATIONAL PORTS OF ENTRY. (a) Authorizes the Texas Public Finance Authority to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $1 billion and distribute the bond proceeds to the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to be used as provided by Subsection (b). (b) Requires the department to use the proceeds of bonds issued to develop, construct, and improve streets and highways providing direct access to international ports of entry in this state that are located on the border with the United Mexican States or in a county bordering the United Mexican States having a seaport. Authorizes the department to take additional measures to promote access to and development of international ports of entry, including the construction of inspection facilities for use by state or federal agencies. (c) Requires the bond proceeds distributed to the department to be used only to fund a transportation project that is not more than 30 miles from an international port of entry in this state that is located on the border with the United Mexican States or in a county bordering the United Mexican States having a seaport. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act takes effect on the date on which the constitutional amendment proposed by __J.R. No. ____, 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, takes effect. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.