Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
NOTE: This is archived committee information from the 79th Legislative Session.
Committee Information
CHAIR
John Carona
VICE-CHAIR
Gonzalo Barrientos
MEMBERS
Ken Armbrister
Kim Brimer
Rodney Ellis
Florence Shapiro
Eliot Shapleigh
Jeff Wentworth
Tommy Williams
CLERK:
John W. Webb
TEL:
(512) 463-0067
LOCATION:
Sam Houston Building, 445
Video/Audio — Archives
79th Session Interim
- November 9, 2006 — Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, with Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
- July 26, 2006 — Road Meeting: Mission, TX (Audio only.)
- June 13, 2006 — Road Meeting: Fort Worth (Audio only.)
- April 25, 2006
- April 18, 2006 — Invited and public testimony regarding interim charges 1, 4, 5 and 6.
- March 1, 2006 — Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security
79th Regular Session
- May 23, 2005
- May 21, 2005 (Part II)
- May 21, 2005 (Part I)
- May 20, 2005
- May 18, 2005 (Part II)
- May 18, 2005 (Part I)
- May 16, 2005
- May 11, 2005
- May 4, 2005 (Part II)
- May 4, 2005 (Part I)
- April 28, 2005
- April 27, 2005 (Part II)
- April 27, 2005 (Part I)
- April 22, 2005 (Part II)
- April 22, 2005 (Part I)
- April 20, 2005 (Part II)
- April 20, 2005 (Part I)
- April 14, 2005
- April 13, 2005 (Part II)
- April 13, 2005 (Part I)
- April 6, 2005 (Part II)
- April 6, 2005 (Part I)
- March 30, 2005
- March 21, 2005
- March 9, 2005
- March 2, 2005
- February 9, 2005
Interim Charges
- Study and make recommendations for updating the state’s overweight truck fees. Include an analysis and recommendations relating to the distribution of fees collected.
- Monitor the impact of federal actions regarding the Patriot Act on homeland security activities in Texas. Make recommendations for statutory changes required to implement federal legislation and improve the efficiency of the process.
- Study the implementation of Senate Bill 9, 79th Legislature, Regular Session, relating to homeland security, and make recommendations to enhance its effectiveness. Focus on implementation of provisions relating to mutual aid, including the need for a statewide compact, agricultural inspection stations, the health alert network, radio and computer interoperability and the protection of drinking water and of vital infrastructure. Assess the feasibility of establishing and operating a statewide public building mapping information system for state-owned buildings.
- Study and make recommendations relating to the Texas Department of Transportation's ability to build, maintain, and relocate rail facilities. Monitor and report on the Departments ability to efficiently contract and provide funding for rail facility construction.
- Evaluate and make recommendations relating to the naming of state highways and the criteria which should be followed in order to name a highway after a natural person. Include an analysis of criteria used in other states.
- Study and make recommendations relating to the Texas Department of Transportation’s programs designed to increase safety on all state transportation facilities.
- Monitor ongoing federal, state and local efforts along the Texas Mexico border to combat criminal activity and prevent illegal border crossings. Study other border state activities in regard to the safety, efficiency and security of border crossings. Include an assessment of the impact of security measures on trade and vehicular and pedestrian commerce.
Joint Charge with Senate Business & Commerce Committee:
- Study and make recommendations relating to the relocation of utilities from state owned right-of-way, including an assessment of the costs of relocations, possible funding sources and methods to decrease delays associated with relocation.
Joint Charge with Senate Finance Committee:
- Review the process by which the Texas Department of Transportation Commission allocates funds to the districts through the Allocation Program. Include a description of all scoring mechanisms used in making allocations of resources and make recommendations for maximizing the use of these funds to meet Legislative objectives.
- Review the process by which the Texas Department of Transportation Commission determines which federal funding sources should be implemented to comply with funding reductions mandated by Congress. Assess the Commission’s options for determining how projects that were to be funded out of these reduced revenue sources will be funded this biennium.
