SRC-AXB S.B. 791 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 791
76R5440  DRH-DBy: Nixon
Infrastructure
4/15/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, special logo signs advertising restaurants, service stations,
and hotels are available at upcoming exits benefitting many businesses and
communities, and are popular in many states.  The Texas Department of
Transportation administers this logo sign program along interstate
highways; however, rural counties with businesses that are not located
along an interstate cannot take advantage of these special logo information
signs.  S.B. 791 allows counties with a certain population to erect
specific information logo signs. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 791 creates provisions for the commissioners court of a
county to assume powers and duties of the Transportation Commission. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 391D, Transportation Code, by adding Section
391.0915, as follows: 

Sec.  391.0915.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.  Authorizes the
commissioners court of a county (court) with a maximum population of
10,000, to assume all the powers and duties of the Transportation
Commission (commission) under this subchapter.  Requires the court to
follow a certain procedure for notifying the commission of the court's
assumption and relinquishing of authority.  Requires the date to be
specified on notification of when a  court proposes to assume or relinquish
commission powers and duties.  Provides that a contract for sign placement
is not affected by a court's assumption of authority, except that contract
payments must be made to the county.  Requires funds received by a county
under this subchapter to be deposited in the general county fund.   

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