1. (a) Aviation Advisory Committee.

   1. (1) Purpose. Created pursuant to Transportation Code, §21.003, the Aviation Advisory Committee provides a direct link for general aviation users' input into the Texas Airport System. The committee provides a forum for exchange of information concerning the users' view of the needs and requirements for the economic development of the aviation system. The members of the committee are an avenue for interested parties to utilize to voice their concerns and have that data conveyed for action for system improvement. Additionally, committee members are representatives of the department and its Aviation Division, able to furnish data on resources available to the Texas aviation users.
   2. (2) Membership. The commission will appoint the members of the Aviation Advisory Committee to staggered terms of three years with two members' terms expiring August 31 of each year. A committee member must have five years of successful experience as an aircraft pilot, an aircraft facilities manager, or a fixed-base operator.

   3. (3) Duties. The committee shall:

      1. (A) periodically review the adopted capital improvement program;
      2. (B) advise the commission on the preparation and adoption of an aviation facilities development program;
      3. (C) advise the commission on the establishment and maintenance of a method for determining priorities among locations and projects to receive state financial assistance for aviation facility development;
      4. (D) advise the commission on the preparation and update of a multi-year aviation facilities capital improvement program; and
      5. (E) perform other duties as determined by order of the commission.
   4. (4) Meetings. The committee shall meet once a calendar year and such other times as requested by the Aviation Division Director.
   5. (5) Rulemaking. Section 1.83 of this subchapter does not apply to the Aviation Advisory Committee.

2. (b) Public Transportation Advisory Committee.

   1. (1) Purpose. Created pursuant to Transportation Code, §455.004, the Public Transportation Advisory Committee provides a forum for the exchange of information between the department, the commission, and committee members representing the transit industry and the general public. Advice and recommendations expressed by the committee provide the department and the commission with a broader perspective regarding public transportation matters that will be considered in formulating department policies.
   2. (2) Membership. Members of the Public Transportation Advisory Committee shall be appointed and shall serve pursuant to Transportation Code, §455.004.

   3. (3) Duties. The committee shall:

      1. (A) advise the commission on the needs and problems of the state's public transportation providers, including recommending methods for allocating state public transportation funds if the allocation methodology is not specified by statute;
      2. (B) comment on proposed rules or rule changes involving public transportation matters during their development and prior to final adoption unless an emergency requires immediate action by the commission; and
      3. (C) perform other duties as determined by order of the commission.

   4. (4) Meetings. The committee shall meet:

      1. (A) at least quarterly, at the call of its chair, but not exceeding once each month;
      2. (B) at the request of the commission; and
      3. (C) as required by §1.83 of this subchapter.

   5. (5) Public transportation technical committees.

      1. (A) The Public Transportation Advisory Committee may appoint one or more technical committees to advise it on specific issues, such as vehicle specifications, funding allocation methodologies, training and technical assistance programs, and level of service planning.
      2. (B) A technical committee shall report any findings and recommendations to the Public Transportation Advisory Committee.

3. (c) Port Authority Advisory Committee.

   1. (1) Purpose. Created pursuant to Transportation Code, §53.001, the purpose of the Port Authority Advisory Committee is to provide a forum for the exchange of information between the commission, the department, and committee members representing the port industry in Texas and others who have an interest in ports. The committee's advice and recommendations will provide the commission and the department with a broad perspective regarding ports and transportation-related matters to be considered in formulating department policies concerning the Texas port system.

   2. (2) Membership.

      1. (A) The commission will appoint five members to staggered three-year terms unless removed sooner at the discretion of the commission.

      2. (B) The commission will appoint:

         1. (i) one member from the Port of Houston Authority of Harris County;
         2. (ii) two members from ports located north of the Matagorda/Calhoun County line and excluding the Port of Houston Authority; and
         3. (iii) two from ports located south of the Matagorda/Calhoun County line.

      3. (C) The commission will consider nominees for the five members from:

         1. (i) Texas Ports Association;
         2. (ii) other port associations;
         3. (iii) Texas ports; and
         4. (iv) the general public.
      4. (D) Officers. The Port Authority Advisory Committee shall elect a chair and a vice-chair for two-year terms. The department encourages the committee to rotate the chair among the members from the different geographic areas represented.

   3. (3) Duties. The committee shall:

      1. (A) advise the commission and the department on matters relating to port authorities, including:

         1. (i) intermodal and multimodal transportation issues relating to Texas waterways, ports, and port improvements, including other issues affecting port access and infrastructure needs; and
         2. (ii) the identification, development, and implementation of potential funding mechanisms, including the state infrastructure bank, for addressing the issues described by clause (i) of this subparagraph; and
      2. (B) perform other duties as determined by the commission, the executive director, or the executive director's designee.
   4. (4) Meeting. The committee shall meet at least once a calendar year and such other times as requested by the commission, the executive director, or the executive director's designee. The chair may request the department to call a meeting.

   5. (5) Subcommittees.

      1. (A) The Port Authority Advisory Committee may appoint one or more subcommittees to provide advice on specific issues.
      2. (B) A subcommittee shall report any findings and recommendations to the Port Authority Advisory Committee chair.

4. (d) Border Trade Advisory Committee.

   1. (1) Purpose. Created pursuant to Transportation Code, §201.114, the Border Trade Advisory Committee provides a forum for the exchange of communications among the commission, the department, and committee members representing border trade interests. The committee's advice and recommendations will provide the commission and the department with a broad perspective regarding the effect of transportation choices on border trade in general and on particular communities. The members of the committee also provide an avenue for interested parties to express opinions with regard to border trade issues.
   2. (2) Membership. The commission will appoint seven members to staggered three-year terms expiring on August 31 of each year. The initial membership of the committee will consist of two members whose terms expire on August 31, 2002; two members whose terms expire on August 31, 2003; and three members whose terms expire on August 31, 2004. In appointing members, the commission may consider all relevant facts, including the desirability of geographic and occupational diversity.

   3. (3) Duties. The committee shall:

      1. (A) define and develop a strategy for identifying and addressing the highest priority border trade transportation challenges;
      2. (B) make recommendations to the commission regarding ways in which to address the highest priority border trade transportation challenges;
      3. (C) advise the commission on methods for determining priorities among competing projects affecting border trade; and
      4. (D) perform other duties as determined by the commission, the executive director, or the executive director's designee.
   4. (4) Meetings. The committee shall meet at least once a calendar year. The dates and times of meetings shall be set by the committee. The committee shall also meet at the request of the department.
   5. (5) Rulemaking. Section 1.83 of this subchapter does not apply to the Border Trade Advisory Committee.
   6. (6) Duration. The Border Trade Advisory Committee is abolished December 31, 2005, unless the commission amends its rules to provide for a different date.

Source Note:The provisions of this §1.84 adopted to be effective July 23, 2000, 25 TexReg 6799; amended to be effective October 17, 2001, 26 TexReg 8193; amended to be effective January 2, 2002, 26 TexReg 11046.