HBA-NRS H.B. 699 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 699
By: Gutierrez
Transportation
4/27/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Trade and travel between Mexico and the United States along the
Texas-Mexico border (border) may be extremely time consuming and
potentially dangerous. Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement,
economic activity has increased significantly along the border. Border
crossing procedures and pathways were not designed to accommodate the
increase in trade-related traffic, resulting in delays and long lines for
those crossing the border. House Bill 699 requires the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) along with the Center for Transportation Research at
The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Transportation Institute to
develop recommendations concerning how state resources may be used to
increase international trade in TxDOT's districts adjacent to the border of
Mexico. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 699 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to develop recommendations concerning
how state resources may be used to increase international trade in TxDOT's
districts adjacent to the border of Mexico. The recommendations are to be
developed with the cooperation of the Center for Transportation Research at
The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Transportation Institute as
a part of TxDOT's annual review of whether proposed road projects are
adequate to handle the projected volume of highway traffic from trade with
Mexico. The bill requires TxDOT to report the recommendations to the
legislature not later than February 1 of each oddnumbered year.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.