S.B. 249 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 249
By: Janek
Transportation
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

S.B. 249 78(R)    Currently, there is no procedure for allowing certain
vehicles priority in boarding the Galveston- 
Port 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 
ferry to and from the Bolivar Peninsula 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

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly
granted to the Texas Department of Transportation in SECTION 1(Section
342.004, Transportation Code) of this bill. 
         
ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 342A, Transportation Code, by adding Section
342.004, as 
follows:
Sec. 342.004. GALVESTON-PORT BOLIVAR FERRY VEHICLE STICKER. (a)
Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to adopt rules
to establish a 
system under which an owner of a motor vehicle registered under Chapter 502
(Registration of Vehicles) applies for a vehicle sticker from TxDot that
entitles the 
vehicle to have priority in boarding the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry.
(b) Requires any rules adopted under this section to address certain items
regarding the vehicle sticker.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 ensures that the fee collected under this
section shall be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.