85R21535 SLB-F     By: Deshotel H.B. No. 4021     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4021:     By:  Deshotel C.S.H.B. No. 4021       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the financing of ports in the state.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 55.001, Transportation Code, is amended   by adding Subdivision (4-a) to read as follows:                (4-a)  "Port access improvement project" means the   construction or improvement of public roadways that will enhance   connectivity to ports.          SECTION 2.  Section 55.002(e), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (e)  The commission may use money from the Texas Mobility   Fund to provide funding for a port access improvement project[,   including through a loan, for a port security project, a port   transportation project, or a project eligible for funding under   Subsection (c)].          SECTION 3.  Section 55.006(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The committee consists of nine [seven] members   appointed [by the commission. The members shall be appointed] as   follows:                (1)  one member from the Port of Houston Authority   appointed by the commission;                (2)  three members who represent maritime ports on the   upper Texas coast appointed by the commission; [and]                (3)  three members who represent maritime ports on the   lower Texas coast appointed by the commission;                (4)  one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;   and                (5)  one member appointed by the speaker of the house of   representatives.          SECTION 4.  Subtitle A, Title 4, Transportation Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 56 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 56.  FUNDING OF SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS          Sec. 56.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Transportation   Commission.                (2)  "Fund" means the ship channel improvement   revolving fund.                (3)  "Navigation district" means a navigation district   created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI,   Texas Constitution, and operating under Chapter 60, 61, 62, or 63,   Water Code.          Sec. 56.002.  SHIP CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING FUND.   (a)  The ship channel improvement revolving fund is an account in   the general revenue fund.  The fund is administered by the   commission.          (b)  The following money shall be credited to the fund:                (1)  money the commission receives as a gift, grant, or   donation for a purpose of this chapter;                (2)  money appropriated to the commission for the   purposes of this chapter;                (3)  money received by the commission for the repayment   of a loan made by the program established under Section 56.003; and                (4)  interest earned on deposits and investments of the   fund.          (c)  Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the   commission for the purposes of administering the fund and the   program established under Section 56.003.          (d)  The financial transactions of the fund are subject to   audit by the state auditor.          Sec. 56.003.  REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. (a)  The commission   by rule shall establish a revolving loan program to use money from   the fund to finance qualified projects for navigation districts.          (b)  To be a qualified project, a project must:                (1)  deepen or widen a ship channel;                (2)  be authorized by the United States Congress; and                (3)  meet any other standards provided by commission   rule.          (c)  A project for maintenance dredging is not a qualified   project under this section.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.