SRC-BWC S.B. 907 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 907
By: Shapleigh
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
3/19/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, whenever one of the state's military bases has to deploy troops,
the military uses the state's highways, roads, and infrastructure for the
movement of troops and equipment.  Last legislative session, the Texas
Department of Transportation (TXDOT) did a study of the deployment routes
for Fort Hood, but not for the rest of the state.  As proposed, S.B. 907
requires TXDOT to do a state-wide study that looks at the deployment routes
of every military base in the state.  In particular, S.B. 907 orders TXDOT
to study the conditions of the highway used for deployment, identify which
highways need construction, expansion, or maintenance, and evaluate the
cost of such improvements.  S.B. 907 is intended to guarantee the
satisfactory condition of the state's highways, in particular those used by
the military for deployment, in order for the military to complete its
deployment mission.  If it is determined that the highways are poor
condition, TXDOT will have the data, including cost, for making the
necessary improvements. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  (a)  Requires the Texas Department of Transportation
(department) to conduct a study of strategic deployment routes and other
highways and intermodal facilities critical to the mission of the military
in this state and meet with appropriate persons from military installations
in this state to identify the strategic deployment routes and highways and
intermodal facilities most often used by the military. Requires the
department to specifically study the conditions of these routes and
highways and intermodal facilities and identify the highways and intermodal
facilities that need further construction, expansion, or maintenance.
Requires the department to consider the costs necessary to accomplish the
improvements and authorizes the department to base a portion of this study
on prior department studies that provide substantially accurate data and
address a relevant or designated issue for study in this Act.   

(b)  Requires the department, not later than January 1, 2003, to submit a
written report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house of representatives detailing the results of the study required by
this Act, including any recommendations for legislative action. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.