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).