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.