BILL ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

By: Carter
05-05-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Over the last year and a half, the Call Box Task Force of the
Advisory Commission on State Emergency Communications has conducted
a study of the feasibility of installing cellular emergency call
boxes along Texas Highways to help improve emergency communications
access by motorists.  The test program, consisting of 118 call
boxes, is being conducted in Cameron, Hale, Tarrant, and Travis
Counties.  The Call Box Task Force is composed of representatives
from the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT), the Texas Department of Public Safety,
local governments, and the telephone industry.

The purpose of the test program is to determine if call boxes along
Texas highways will have an impact in emergency situations or will
help prevent reported incidents from escalating with more serious
problems (for example; a stalled car quickly removed from a highway
could reduce the chance of an accident or motorists quickly
assisted would be less likely to become a target of crime).  The
safety of not only the citizens of Texas but, also of visitors to
the state is the primary concern.

Based on information collected, both statistical and comprehensive,
the Call Box Task Force recommended that the State of Texas should
implement an Emergency Call Box Program.  The Task Force found that
TxDOT should be designated as the primary agency responsible for
implementing the program.  Furthermore, it was recommended that the
focus should be in rural and urban portions of Texas where access
to help is limited and in urban areas that have high incidents of
crime.  Spacing along Interstate, U.S. Highways and State Highways
should be every two miles on opposing sides of the roadway within
line of sight.  Furthermore, divided highways with limited traffic
volumes and two-lane roadways should be implemented with call boxes
staggered on opposite sides of the roadway at two-mile intervals. 
After initial placement, expansion of the system could then take
place based upon need.

PURPOSE

H.B. 1954 directs the Texas Department of Transportation to
establish an Emergency Call Box Program in Texas.  The bill
provides for an additional $1 fee to be charged on driver's license
renewals and original applications to pay for the Emergency Call
Box Program.

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.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1: Amends Title 116, Revised Statutes, by adding Article
66731 as follows:
Provides for the Texas Department of Transportation to establish an
Emergency Call Box Program in Texas and that boxes be placed on
Interstate, Federal and State Highways.  Implementation will
commence along rural interstate highways.  Creates a call box
committee composed of the executive directors of the Advisory
Commission on State Emergency Communications, General Services
Commission, Texas Department of Health and the Department of Public
Safety.  The committee assist TxDOT in developing specifications
for the system.  Directs other state agencies, counties and cities
to cooperate with the establishment  of the program.  Requires that
implementation of the system begin not later than September 1,
1996.


SECTION 2: Amends Article 6687b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, by
amending Subsection (b)
Provides that all driver's license fees, except the $1 fee created
by this Act, be deposited in the General Revenue Fund.

SECTION 3: Amends Article 6687b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, by
adding Subsections (d) and (e) as follows:
Provides that an additional $1 fee be collected when DPS issues an
original or renewal of a driver's license.  Provides that these
funds be deposited in an account in the state highway fund.  These
funds may only be used to implement and administer the call box
program.

SECTION 4: Amends Article 6687b-2, Revised Statutes, by amending
Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (f) and (g) as follows:
Provides that an additional $1 fee be collected when DPS issues an
original or renewal of a commercial driver's license.  Provides
that these funds be deposited in an account in the state highway
fund. These funds can only be used to implement and administer the
call box program.

SECTION 5: Effective Date: September 1, 1995

SECTION 6: Emergency Clause

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1954 creates the emergency call box system committee. 
This committee is composed of the executive director's of the
Advisory Commission on State Emergency Communications, General
Services Commission, Texas Department of Health, and the Department
of Public Safety.  This committee will assist TxDot in developing
the call box system.  The original H.B. 1954 did not include the
committee. C.S.H.B. 1954 also requires installation to commence on
rural interstate highways, not later than September 1, 1996.  This
provision did not appear in the original bill.  C.S.H.B. 1954 adds
a $1 fee to driver's license and commercial driver's license
original applications and renewals, whereas the original bill
included a $1 fee on vehicle registrations.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Pursuant to a public  notice posted on April 7, 1995 at 5:04 p.m.,
the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on
Wednesday, April 12, 1995, at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment, in
Room E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at
3:58 p.m. by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander.  The Chair
laid out H.B. 1954 and recognized Representative Carter to explain
H.B. 1954.  The Chair recognized the following persons who
testified in support of H.B. 1954.  Don Phillips, GTE.  Anthony G.
Simpson, GTE.  Don Hansen, Texas Hotel and Motel Association.  The
Chair recognized the following persons who testified but were
neutral on H.B. 1954.  Bobbie Templeton, Texas Department of
Transportation.  Mary A. Boyd, Advisory Commission on State
Emergency Commission.  The Chair left H.B. 1954 pending before the
Committee.  Pursuant to a public notice announced from the House
Floor on May 5, 1995, in accordance with House Rules, the House
Committee on Transportation met in a formal meeting on the House
Floor, at Desk 22, on Friday, May 5, 1995, and was called to order
by the Chairman, Representative Clyde Alexander at 12:39 p.m.  The
Chair laid out H.B. 1954 by Carter, which was pending before the
Committee.  Representative Alexander laid out the Committee
substitute to H.B. 1954, and without objection the substitute was
adopted.  Representative Alexander moved that the Committee report
H.B. 1954, as substituted, to the full House with the
recommendation that it do pass.  The motion prevailed by the
following vote: Ayes (7), Nayes (0), Absent (2), Present not voting
(0).