SRC-JXG H.B. 1779 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1779
76R6626 DRH-FBy: Alexander (Cain)
Infrastructure
5/3/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation's administrative rule
regarding eligibility of placement of a business logo on a specific
information logo sign for a commercial establishment is that it be located
with driveway access to the access road (frontage road), ramp, or
intersecting crossroad. Some hotels could easily be seen from, and are very
close to the highway, but do not have immediate driveway access to the
access road, ramp, or crossroad. These hotels do not qualify for a business
logo on a specific information logo sign. Under Section 391.093(a),
Transportation Code, to be eligible for a specific information logo sign,
commercial establishments must be located no more than three miles from an
interchange on an eligible highway. H.B. 1779 would allow a lodging
establishment to be eligible for a specific information logo sign, if the
establishment is visible from an eligible highway or highway interchange
and is located on a street no more than two turns off the access or
frontage road to the eligible highway. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1779 sets forth a provision to provide that a lodging
establishment is eligible to have its name displayed on a specific
information logo sign. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Department of Transportation
in SECTION 1 (Section 391.093, Transportation Code) of this bill.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 391.093, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (f), to require the Texas Department of Transportation, by rule,
to provide that an establishment that provides lodging is eligible to have
its name displayed on a specific information logo sign if the establishment
is visible from an eligible highway or an interchange on an eligible
highway, and located on a street that is no more than two turns off the
access or frontage road to the eligible highway. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.