BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2453
79R6780 JRJ-D By: Casteel (Madla)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The 72nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, passed S.B. 518 and created the Specific Information Logo Sign Program (program) This program allows commercial establishments that provide food, gas, camping, or lodging services that are located within three miles of the interstate highways to have signs displayed near the interchange. In May of 2004, after federal legislation had passed, the Federal Highway Administration published an interim rule that amended the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to permit the use of specific service signing to assist motorists in locating licensed 24-hour pharmacy services open to the public. In order to add this category to the program, legislation amending the Texas Transportation Code is required.
H.B. 2453 adds a new category to the program. In the case of emergency, Texas motorists would be able to locate pharmacy services at any hour of the day. This legislation would be at no cost to the state as the eligible commercial establishments are required to pay for all costs of designing, manufacturing and installing signs for this program.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 391.093, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (h), as follows:
(a) Requires a commercial establishment, to be eligible to have its name displayed on a specific information logo sign, to provide gas, food, lodging, camping, or pharmacy services and be located not more than three miles from an interchange on an eligible highway.
(h) Requires an establishment that provides pharmacy services to operate continuously for 24 hours each day and provide pharmacy services for 24 hours each day.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.