H.B. 659 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 659 By: Pitts Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE David M. Laney was appointed by Governor George W. Bush to the Texas Transportation Commission in April of 1995, designating him its chairman and Commissioner of Transportation. Mr. Laney championed efforts to increase the Texas share of federal transportation dollars. Throughout his tenure on the commission, Mr. Laney provided strong and confident leadership to the Texas Department of Transportation, promoting the development of a first-class Texas transportation system. His legacy is a transportation agency with a menu of solid financial and operational tools providing a safe, effective, and environmentally sensitive transporttion system for the people of Texas and the nation. As proposed, HB 659 designates the interchange of U.S. Highway 75 and Interstate Highway 635 in Dallas as the David M. Laney High Five Interchange. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Section 1 amends Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, by adding Section 225.0425, as follows: Sec. 225.0425. DAVID M. LANEY HIGH FIVE INTERCHANGE. (a) The interchange of U.S. Highway 75 and Interstate Highway 635 in Dallas is designated as the David M. Laney High Five Interchange. The department shall design and construct memorial markers indicating the designation as the David M. Laney High Five Interchange and any other appropriate information. The department shall erect a marker at appropriate sites along the interchange. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act will take effect September 1, 2003.