SRC-JBJ C.S.S.B. 1109 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1109
77R12072 JAT-DBy: Bernsen
State Affairs
4/10/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, some motorists experience delays due to congestion on the ferry
service to the Bolivar Peninsula.  C.S.S.B. 1109 allows an owner of a motor
vehicle who obtains a certain ferry sticker priority boarding on the ferry
service to and from the Bolivar Peninsula. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of
Transportation in SECTION 1 (Section 342.503, Transportation Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 342, Transportation Code, by adding Subchapter
G, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER G.  GALVESTON-PORT BOLIVAR FERRY

Sec. 342.501.  FERRY VEHICLE STICKER.  (a)  Authorizes an owner of a motor
vehicle registered under Chapter 502 to apply to the Texas Department of
Transportation (department) for issuance of a sticker for the vehicle that
entitles the vehicle to have priority in boarding the Galveston-Port
Bolivar ferry operated by the department.   

(b)  Requires the department to design the sticker and designate the place
where a sticker must be affixed to the windshield of the motor vehicle for
which it is issued. 

Sec. 342.502.  FEE.  (a)  Provides that the annual fee for a ferry vehicle
sticker under this subchapter is the greater of $50 or the amount equal to
the fee for the current registration year for registration under Chapter
502D. 

(b)  Sets forth requirements for the department regarding the handling of
each fee collected under this section. 

Sec. 342.503.  RULES AND FORMS.  (a)  Authorizes the department to adopt
rules to administer this subchapter. 

(b)  Requires the department to prescribe forms necessary for the
administration of this subchapter. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Differs from the original by amending previously proposed
provisions regarding the establishment and administration of a vehicle
sticker procedure for priority access to the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry. 
 
SECTION 2.  No change.