HBA-JEK H.C.R. 85 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 85 By: Chavez State, Federal & International Relations 3/4/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE While the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has boosted the economy in Texas and the nation, it has also increased heavy truck traffic and road deterioration along the border commercial zone in Texas. Many NAFTA-related trucks exceed federal and state weight limits, which can pose safety hazards for other vehicles and contribute to the deterioration of roadways and bridges. While the whole nation benefits from NAFTA, many local governments in the border region bear the bulk of the costs for overweight truck inspections and road repairs. Additional weigh stations in the commercial border zone may help alleviate the problems caused by overweight trucks, but such weigh stations would be costly for local governments. House Concurrent Resolution 85 urges the United States Congress to provide counties and municipalities with funding for commercial vehicle weigh stations within the 20-mile commercial border zone. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Concurrent Resolution 85 urges the United States Congress to create a federal category under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for NAFTA traffic-related infrastructure damage to provide counties and municipalities with funding for commercial vehicle weigh stations within the 20-mile commercial border zone.