TWT S.B. 161 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION S.B. 161 By: Lindsay (Elkins) 4-16-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, Texas law does not authorize a speed limit of 70 miles per hour on toll roads in Harris County. PURPOSE S.B. 161 authorizes a commissioners court in counties with a population of more than 2.8 million to establish a speed limit of not more than 70 miles per hour on any part of a highway of that county that is a limited-access or controlled-access highway, regardless of where the part of the highway is located. 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 Sec. 545.355, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c) to allow a commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 2.8 million to establish from the results of an engineering and traffic investigation a speed of not more than 70 miles per hour on any part of a highway of that county that is a limited-access or controlled-access highway, regardless of the location of the part of the highway. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective upon passage.