C.S.H.B. 524 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 524
By: Eiland
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 524 78(R)    Currently, there is no procedure for allowing certain
vehicles priority in boarding the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry.  The
Bolivar Peninsula has seen an increase in tourist traffic and prolonged
waiting periods for passage onto the Bolivar ferry.   As proposed, CSHB
524 allows priority boarding on the ferry to and from the Bolivar
Peninsula  for the owner of a motor vehicle who obtains a ferry sticker.
Vehicles with the required sticker will be given priority in boarding the
ferry only until the ferry reaches 50 percent of its vehicle capacity. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of
Transportation in SECTION 1 (Sections 342.502 and 342.503, Transportation
Code) of this bill. 

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 (Registration of Vehicles) to
apply for a vehicle sticker from the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) that entitles the vehicle to have priority in boarding the
Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry. 

(b)  Requires TxDOT to design the sticker and designate the place where
the sticker must be affixed to the motor vehicle windshield. 

Sec.  342.502.  FEE.  Requires TxDOT to establish the annual fee by rule
in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of implementation.   

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

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

(c)  Requires TxDOT to adopt rules ensuring that vehicles with the
required sticker be given priority in boarding the ferry only until the
ferry reaches 50 percent of its vehicle capacity. 

EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2003

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute differs from the original in that the substitute allows
TxDOT to set the annual fee for the sticker by rule rather than
stipulating the amount of the fee in legislation.