HBA-NRS H.B. 1697 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1697
By: Ellis, Dan
Transportation
3/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Transportation Code does not expressly allow advertising by
a sponsor on an outdoor sign erected or maintained by a nonprofit county
agricultural fair along a state highway. The Walker County Fair Association
recently erected a sign with the logo of a local bank that underwrote the
cost of the sign. The Texas Department of Transportation has asked that the
sign be removed and informed the bank that they are in noncompliance with
state law. House Bill 1697 allows an entity who pays for or sponsors a sign
for a nonprofit county agricultural fair to use up to 25 percent of the
area of the sign for the sponsor's logo or emblem.  

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

House Bill 1697 amends the Transportation Code to authorize outdoor
advertising that is an outdoor sign and is erected or maintained by a
nonprofit county agricultural fair to include the logo or emblem of an
entity that sponsors the agricultural fair if that logo or emblem occupies
less than 25 percent of the area of the sign.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.