BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 1129
By: West, Royce (Davis)
04-26-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Reverend Sylvester Marilyn Wright served as the pastor of Peoples
Missionary Baptist Church and was a powerful, positive influence on
the history of race relations in Dallas beginning as early as 1957. 
Rev. Wright was known for his persuasive preaching and his powerful
voice.  In 1962, Rev. Wright was elected chairman of the
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and began building ties
with the Dallas power structure.  He achieved recognition for
trying to balance the needs of various racial groups to keep the
communities together.  

Rev. Wright was elected president of the Missionary Baptist General
Convention of Texas in 1980, awarded an honorary doctorate from
Bishop College in 1986, and elected president of the National
Missionary Baptist Convention of America in 1994.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1129 designates portions of certain state and
interstate highways in Dallas County as the S.M. Wright Freeway.

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. Designates the portions of U.S. Highway 175 in Dallas
County between Interstate Highway 45 and State Highway 310 and
State Highway 310 between U.S. Highway 175 and State Loop 12 as the
S.M. Wright Freeway in recognition of that person's spiritual and
civic contributions to the city of Dallas and the State of Texas. 
Provides that the designation is in addition to any other
designation.

SECTION 2. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation
(department) to design and construct memorial markers to be placed
along U.S. Highway 175 and State Highway 310 indicating their
designation as the S.M. Wright Freeway.

     (b) Requires the markers to include the highway number and
     other information that the department determines is
     appropriate.
     
     (c) Requires the markers to be erected at each end of the
     highway and at intermediate sites that the department
     determines are appropriate.
     
     (d) Provides that the department is responsible for repair and
     replacement of the markers and grounds.
     
     (e) Authorizes the department to accept grants and donations
     to assist in financing the construction and maintenance of the
     markers.
SECTION 3. 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. 1129 by West and recognized Representative Edwards to
explain S.B. 1129.  There were no witnesses testifying in support
of, or in opposition to S.B. 1129.  Representative Price moved that
the Committee report S.B. 1129, 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).