BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 2180
By: Horn
04-05-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Current law, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (V.T.C.S.), Article 46c-6, requires the Texas Transportation Commission to hold a public
hearing before awarding financial assistance under the Aeronautics
Regulation Act to a governmental entity.  Because the commission
meets once a month, public hearings are restricted to the notice
and time parameters of that meeting.  Authorizing the commission's
representative to hold a hearing would allow the department greater
flexibility in the time and location of these hearings.  Requiring
the commission to hold a hearing for any financial assistance
prevents the department from addressing emergency situations in a
timely manner.

PURPOSE

To provide that the Texas Transportation Commission's authorized
representative may hold a public hearing for the award of financial
assistance under the Aeronautics Regulation Act.  To provide that
the department may award a loan or grant to an aviation facility
without holding a public hearing in the case of an emergency.

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 V.T.C.S., Article 46c-6, to allow the
commission's authorized representative to hold a public hearing for
financial assistance under the Aeronautics Regulation Act and to
allow the executive director or his/her designee to award a grant
or loan for financial assistance without a hearing in the case of
an emergency.

SECTION 2: Emergency clause and Effective Date as upon passage.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Pursuant to a public notice posted on March 23, 1995, at 7:36 p.m.,
the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on
Wednesday, March 29, 1995 at 2:00 p.m. in Room E1.014 of the
Capitol Extension and was called to order at 2:10 p.m. by the
Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander.  The Chair laid out H.B.
2180 and recognized Representative Horn to explain H.B. 2180.  The
Chair recognized the following person who testified but was neutral
on H.B. 2180:  Tom Griebel, Texas Department of Transportation. 
The Chair left H.B. 2180 pending before the Committee.  Pursuant to
a public notice posted on March 30, 1995 at 6:02 p.m., the House
Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on Wednesday,
April 5, 1995 at 2:00 p.m. or upon adjournment, in room E1.014 of
the Capitol Extension and was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by the
Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander after the House recessed. 
The Chair laid out H.B. 2180 by Horn, which was pending before the
Committee.  Representative Clemons moved that the Committee report
H.B. 2180, without amendments, to the full House with the
recommendation that it do pass.  The motion prevailed by the
following vote: Ayes (8), Nayes (0), Absent (1), Present not voting
(0).