SRC-LBB S.B. 249 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 249 By: Janek Infrastructure Development and Security 6/24/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is no procedure for allowing certain vehicles priority in boarding the GalvestonPort Bolivar ferry. The Bolivar Peninsula has seen an increase in tourist traffic and prolonged waiting periods for passage onto the Bolivar ferry. S.B. 249 allows priority boarding on the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry or the Port Aransas ferry 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(Section 342.004, Transportation Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 342, Transportation Code, by adding Section 342.004, as follows: Sec. 342.004. GALVESTON-PORT BOLIVAR FERRY AND PORT ARANSAS FERRY VEHICLE STICKERS. (a) Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to adopt rules to establish a system under which an owner of a motor vehicle applies for a vehicle sticker from TxDOT that entitles the vehicle to have priority in boarding the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry or the Port Aransas ferry. (b) Requires any rules adopted under this section to address certain items regarding the vehicle sticker. (c) Requires TxDOT to deposit each fee collected under this section to the credit of the state highway fund. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 2003.