By Nixon                                         S.B. No. 156

      75R1328 MLS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to directional signs on public highways for major

 1-3     agricultural interests.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 391.001, Transportation Code, is amended

 1-6     by adding Subdivisions (15) and (16) to read as follows:

 1-7                 (15)  "Major agricultural interest guide sign" means a

 1-8     rectangular guide sign panel imprinted with the name of a major

 1-9     agricultural interest and containing directional information to

1-10     that interest.

1-11                 (16)  "Major agricultural interest" means an

1-12     agricultural entity that:

1-13                       (A)  sows and cultivates an agricultural product;

1-14                       (B)  markets that product on the premises;

1-15                       (C)  devotes at least five acres of land to the

1-16     production of that product; and

1-17                       (D)  provides tours of the grounds or facilities

1-18     to the public.

1-19           SECTION 2.  The heading of Subchapter D, Chapter 391,

1-20     Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

1-21              SUBCHAPTER D.  [SPECIFIC] INFORMATION LOGO SIGNS

1-22           SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 391, Transportation Code,

1-23     is amended by adding Section 391.0931 to read as follows:

1-24           Sec. 391.0931.  MAJOR AGRICULTURAL INTEREST GUIDE SIGNS.  (a)

 2-1     Unless the commission determines there is a conflict with federal

 2-2     law, the commission shall establish a program that allows the

 2-3     erection and maintenance of major agricultural interest guide signs

 2-4     at appropriate locations along eligible urban and other highways.

 2-5           (b)  The commission shall adopt rules regulating the content,

 2-6     composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of major

 2-7     agricultural interest guide signs and supports within eligible

 2-8     urban and other highway rights-of-way.  A major agricultural

 2-9     interest is eligible to have its name displayed on a major

2-10     agricultural interest guide sign if it is located not farther than

2-11     two miles from an interchange on an eligible urban or other

2-12     highway.

2-13           (c)  A major agricultural interest that has its name

2-14     displayed on a major agricultural interest guide sign shall

2-15     reimburse the commission for all costs associated with the

2-16     composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of the sign.

2-17           (d)  Major agricultural interest guide signs may be included

2-18     as part of exit direction signs, advance guide signs, and

2-19     supplemental guide signs and shall include guide signs for both

2-20     directions of traffic on an eligible urban or other highway.

2-21           (e)  If the commission makes a determination of conflict

2-22     under Subsection (a), the commission shall file a copy of the

2-23     determination, including its reasons for the determination, with

2-24     the secretary of state for publication in the Texas Register.

2-25           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-26           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-27     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 3-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 3-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.