| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the funding of certain port projects. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 55, Transportation Code, |
|
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
|
CHAPTER 55. FUNDING OF PORT DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE |
|
|
[SECURITY,] PROJECTS, PORT CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS, AND STUDIES |
|
|
SECTION 2. Sections 55.001(4-a) and (5), Transportation |
|
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(4-a) "Port connectivity [access improvement] |
|
|
project" means the construction or improvement of public roadways |
|
|
that will enhance connectivity to ports. |
|
|
(5) "Port development and infrastructure [security, |
|
|
transportation, or facility] project" means an infrastructure, |
|
|
security, transportation, or facility [a] project that is necessary |
|
|
or convenient for the proper operation of a maritime port and that |
|
|
will improve the security, movement, and intermodal transportation |
|
|
of cargo or passengers in commerce and trade. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 55.002, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
by amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding Subsection (f) |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) From money in the fund, the department shall fund: |
|
|
(1) port development and infrastructure [security, |
|
|
transportation, or facility] projects; and |
|
|
(2) maritime port studies. |
|
|
(c) Port development and infrastructure [security, |
|
|
transportation, or facility] projects eligible for funding under |
|
|
this chapter include: |
|
|
(1) construction or improvement of transportation |
|
|
facilities within the jurisdiction of a maritime port; |
|
|
(2) the dredging or deepening of channels, turning |
|
|
basins, or harbors; |
|
|
(3) the construction or improvement of wharves, docks, |
|
|
structures, jetties, piers, storage facilities, cruise terminals, |
|
|
or [any] facilities necessary or useful, as determined by the |
|
|
committee, in connection with maritime port transportation or |
|
|
economic development; |
|
|
(4) the construction or improvement of facilities |
|
|
necessary or useful in providing maritime port security; |
|
|
(5) the acquisition of container cranes or other |
|
|
mechanized equipment used in the movement of cargo or passengers in |
|
|
[international] commerce and trade; |
|
|
(6) the acquisition of land to be used for maritime |
|
|
port purposes; |
|
|
(7) the acquisition, improvement, enlargement, or |
|
|
extension of existing maritime port facilities; and |
|
|
(8) environmental protection projects that: |
|
|
(A) are required as a condition of a state, |
|
|
federal, or local environmental permit or other form of approval; |
|
|
(B) are necessary for the acquisition of spoil |
|
|
disposal sites and improvements to existing and future spoil sites; |
|
|
or |
|
|
(C) result from the undertaking of eligible |
|
|
projects. |
|
|
(e) The commission may use money from the Texas Mobility |
|
|
Fund to provide funding for a port connectivity [access |
|
|
improvement] project. |
|
|
(f) An applicant eligible for funding under this section may |
|
|
not receive more than 20 percent of the total amount of money |
|
|
appropriated to the department in a fiscal biennium to fund the |
|
|
applicant's eligible projects under this section. |
|
|
SECTION 4. Section 55.005, Transportation Code, as added by |
|
|
Section 1, Chapter 1268 (S.B. 1282), Acts of the 77th Legislature, |
|
|
Regular Session, 2001, is reenacted and amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 55.005. PORT ACCESS ACCOUNT FUND. (a) The port access |
|
|
account fund is an account in the general revenue fund. |
|
|
(b) The following money shall be credited to the fund: |
|
|
(1) money received from gifts, grants, and donations; |
|
|
[and] |
|
|
(2) interest earned on deposits and investments of the |
|
|
fund; |
|
|
(3) money appropriated to the fund by the legislature; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(4) money received from the federal government. |
|
|
(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the |
|
|
department to perform the department's powers and duties concerning |
|
|
maritime port transportation and economic development under this |
|
|
chapter and to pay the department's expenses incurred under this |
|
|
chapter, as approved by the committee. |
|
|
(c-1) Money appropriated by the legislature under |
|
|
Subsection (b)(3) may only be used to fund eligible port |
|
|
development and infrastructure projects under Section 55.002. |
|
|
(d) The financial transactions of the fund are subject to |
|
|
audit by the state auditor. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1499 passed the Senate on |
|
|
April 3, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the |
|
|
Senate concurred in House amendment on May 16, 2023, by the |
|
|
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Secretary of the Senate |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1499 passed the House, with |
|
|
amendment, on May 11, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 131, |
|
|
Nays 9, one present not voting. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Governor |