C.S.H.B. 2905 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2905 By: Phillips Transportation Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, 391.098, Transportation Code allows the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to grant variances on a case-by-case basis to the eligibility, location, or placement of specific logo signs, major agricultural interest signs, and major shopping area guide signs. As of January 2003, TxDOT had processed over 900 such variances. As the statute is written, the variances must be personally signed by the executive director. HB 2905 allows a designee of the executive director the authority to act on the executive director's behalf with relation to the granting of variances under 391.098. Such authority should increase the efficiency of the process. 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 CSHB 2905 Defines "director" as the director or his designee for purposes of 391.098. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect on September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute contains no substantive changes from the original. The substitute contains language as prepared by the Texas Legislative Council.