HBA-MSH C.S.H.B. 1662 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1662
By: Alexander
Public Safety
4/6/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas emergency call box program (program) was initiated in 1993 in
five roadway sections in four counties.  The program consists of a system
of emergency telephone call boxes which are designed to enable users of
certain state highways to request emergency and nonemergency response
services. Currently, the program may not receive state highway funds for
its operation or maintenance.  Therefore, the program relies upon public
and private entities to pay all direct or indirect costs.  C.S.H.B. 1662
replaces the program with a system of automatic location identification
telephone call boxes administered by the Commission on State Emergency
Communications.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1662 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the Commission
on State Emergency Communications (commission) to implement a system of
automatic location identification telephone call boxes (system), that must
begin along rural interstate highways, including rest stops and roadside
parks. The bill transfers all the powers and responsibilities for the
system from the Texas Department of Transportation to the commission.  The
bill authorizes the system to enable users to communicate with providers of
emergency and nonemergency response services.  The bill requires the
commission to limit the distance between call boxes to a maximum of two
miles, except as prohibited by roadway conditions or where 24-hour
communication service exists.  The bill requires the commission to
implement the system in accordance with the General Appropriations Act and
prohibits the use of revenue derived from fees, taxes, or other charges
imposed in connection with the sale or provision of services by means of a
landline or wireless communication infrastructure.  The bill requires the
commission to provide technical assistance including support for routing
calls made from a call box to an emergency services provider.  The bill
sets forth provisions relating to the awarding of contracts by the
commission for the implementation of the system.  The bill requires the
commission to report to the legislature and Legislative Budget Board each
year on the system, including recommendations for legislative action. 

The bill repeals provisions of the Transportation Code authorizing the
Texas Department of Transportation to implement an emergency highway call
box system. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B.1662 differs from the original bill by amending the Health and
Safety Code rather than the Transportation Code, and transferring transfers
all the powers and responsibilities for a system of automatic  location
identification telephone call boxes (system) from the Texas Department of
Transportation to the Commission on State Emergency Communications
(commission).  The substitute sets forth new provisions relating to the
funding of the system, and repeals provisions of the Transportation Code
regarding the system.