BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3099

By: Stucky

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Continuing to honor our military heroes and recognize local service members who served with distinction during a major conflict is important. One group that deserves recognition is the group of soldiers from Wise and Jack Counties who were captured as prisoners of war in World War II and were part of the Lost Battalion of that war. H.B. 3099 seeks to recognize and honor these soldiers by designating a portion of U.S. Highway 380 in Wise and Jack Counties as the Lost Battalion Memorial Highway.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3099 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of U.S. Highway 380 in Wise and Jack Counties between its intersections with U.S. Highway 281 and U.S. Highway 287 as the Lost Battalion Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation, subject to a grant or donation of funds, to do the following:

· design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Lost Battalion Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and

· erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.