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.