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.