BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 831
By: Luna (Van de Putte)
04-26-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) downtown campus will
need approximately 1,000 parking spaces to accommodate a projected
campus population of 2,500 to 3,000 when the campus opens in the
fall of 1997.  UTSA has requested a long-term lease agreement with
the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to construct a
surface parking lot within the Durango loop in San Antonio that
will add another 250 parking spaces for the university.  Currently,
TxDOT is required to charge market value for leases with three
exceptions.  An institution of higher learning is not currently one
of those exceptions.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 831 includes educational purposes as a reason for
the Department of Transportation to charge for leases of highway
assets to public utility providers.

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 Section 2, Article 6673a-3, V.T.C.S., to include
institutions of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003,
Education Code, for purposes of the institution as a reason for the
Department of Transportation to charge for leases of highway assets
to public utility providers.

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Pursuant to a public notice posted on April 21, 1995, at 4:04 p.m.,
the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on
Wednesday, April 26, 1995, at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment, in
Room E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at
6:13 p.m. by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander.  The Chair
laid out S.B. 831 and recognized Representative Van de Putte to
explain S.B. 831.  There were no witnesses testifying in support
of, or in opposition to S.B. 831.  Representative Bosse moved that
the Committee report S.B. 831, without amendments, to the full
House with the recommendation that it do pass.  The motion
prevailed by the following vote: Ayes (6), Nayes (0), Absent (3),
Present not voting (0).