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.