C.S.H.B. 1831 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1831
By: Harper-Brown
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Dual-branding of restaurant concepts and co-branding of restaurant and
gasoline outlets has proliferated since the establishment of the highway
logo sign program in 1995.  In order to better inform the traveling public
of the services and products offered at an off ramp, CSHB 1831 would allow
for the display of duallogos on a single panel of a logo sign board. 

Under the current logo sign program, only restaurants serving three meals
a day and open 12 hours a day can be displayed on logo sign boards.  Many
restaurant concepts popular with the traveling public serve two meals a
day and/or operate 10 hours a day.  CSHB 1831 would allow these
restaurants to be placed on the logo sign boards.  

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 Section 391.001, subsection (12) of the Transportation
Code by removing the word "panel" for clarification purposes. 

SECTION 2: Amends Section 391.092, subsection (c) of the Transportation
Code to clarify that an information logo sign may not be divided into more
than six panels displaying establishment names. 

SECTION 3: Amends Section 391.093, subsection (c) of the Transportation
Code to allow an establishment that provides food and operates
continuously at least 10 hours a day and serves two meals a day to display
its name on a specific information logo sign. 

SECTION 3: Amends Section 391.092 of the Transportation Code by adding
subsection (g) to allow an establishment to have more than one logo
displayed on the same specific logo sign panel if the establishment
provides two food outlets in a shared space under common ownership or gas
and food outlets in a shared space under common ownership. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

CSHB 1831 changes SECTION 1 by removing the amendments to Section 391.093,
Transportation Code and adding language to amend Section 391.001,
subsection (12),  Transportation Code to clarify the definition of a
"specific information logo sign". 

SECTION 2 was changed to amend Section 391.092 (c), Transportation Code to
clarify that a logo sign  cannot be divided into more than six panels that
contain establishment names as opposed to outlining the effective date. 

SECTION 3 was added to amend Section 391.093, Transportation Code, by
amending subsection (c) and adding subsection (g). 

SECTION 4 was added to outline the effective date.