TWT H.B. 970 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION H.B. 970 By: McClendon 4-5-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Presently, state law, Article 6675d, Revised Statutes, provide a municipality with the ability to establish a non-radioactive hazardous material route, however, there is not a statute that mandates a municipality to create such a route. PURPOSE The purpose of this bill is to require a municipality with a population of more than 750,000 to develop a route for commercial motor vehicles carrying hazardous materials in the municipality. Requires the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to approve the route. 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 7, Article 6675d, Revised Statutes, by adding Subsection (f) which requires municipality with a population of more than 750,000 to develop a route for commercial motor vehicles carrying hazardous materials on a road or highway in the municipality. The city must submit the route to the DPS for approval. If the DPS rules the route complies with all applicable federal and state regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials, the route will be approved and the city and the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) will be notified. SECTION 2. Emergency Clause. Effective upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE SECTION 1. The substitute replaces the word "plan" with "route". The substitute also deletes language from the original which required the city and the TXDOT to post signs designating the roads and highways in the city that can be used to transport hazardous materials.