CLW S.B. 566 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION S.B. 566 By: Truan (Chavez) 5-9-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND In the last 10 years, overland traffic in Texas has increased 190 percent. Much of this growth is due to the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In addition to increased traffic, there are concerns about the entry into Texas of large numbers of Mexican trucks, many of which do not adhere to U.S. trucking regulations, and their impact on safety and road quality. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 566, requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to study on the origin and destination of goods transported over highways in the state, paying particular attention to the increase in commercial traffic because of the NAFTA. 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. (a) Requires the TXDOT to conduct a study on the origins and destination of goods transported over highways in this state. Requires the TXDOT to specifically study the increase in commercial traffic because of the NAFTA and identify the highways that need to be designated for construction, expansion, and maintenance because of the increase in international trade. Requires the TXDOT to consider the costs necessary to accomplish the highway improvements. Authorizes the TXDOT to base a portion of this study on prior TXDOT studies if theses studies provide substantially accurate data and address a relevant or designated issue for study in this bill. Authorizes the TXDOT, in order to reduce the overall cost of this study, to enlist the services of available university support to aid the TXDOT in its research, if it so chooses. (b) Requires the TXDOT, not later than December 15, 1998, to file a report with the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives detailing the results of the study. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective upon passage.