HBA-MSH H.B. 1825 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1825 By: Coleman Transportation 4/22/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The National Scenic Byways Program is a federal program to recognize and enhance roads which have outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, or archaeological qualities. The Federal Highway Administration has $21 million in discretionary funding for this program for fiscal year 2001 and pays 80 percent of the costs of an eligible project. The creation of a state scenic byways program would allow the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to apply for these federal funds. House Bill 1825 requires TxDOT to develop, implement, and administer a program to designate scenic byways. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Transportation in SECTION 1 (Section 221.004, Transportation Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 1825 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to develop, implement, and administer a program to designate as scenic byways (byways) state highways or portions of state highways that have notable scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, or archaeological qualities. The program is to: _encourage and coordinate actions by the state and other entities to develop, protect, promote, and manage the byways; _enhance recreational, cultural, and archeological resources along the byways; _promote economic development along the byways; and _educate residents and visitors to the state on the history, culture, and natural beauty of Texas. The bill requires TxDOT to adopt rules for the administration of the byways program and requires TxDOT to structure the program to maximize the amount of money available for the program from the federal government. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.