BILL ANALYSIS
By: Hilderbran
Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Although Texas has natural advantages in history, culture, geography, and climate to attract the healthy, affluent tourist, current law does not maximize federal and private sources of funding for the development of bicycle tourism trails.
As proposed, HB 2903 seeks to maximize federal and private sources of funding for the designation, construction, improvement, maintenance, and signage of bicycle tourism trails and promotion of bicycle tourism. This bill requires a bicycle advisory committee to advise and make recommendations to the Texas Department of Transportation on the development, improvement, and expansion of bicycle tourism trails.
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
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter K, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.9025, as follows:
Sec. 201.9025. TEXAS BICYCLE TOURISM TRAILS.
(a) Requires a bicycle advisory committee, if the Texas Department of Transportation (department) establishes a committee, to advise and make recommendations to the Texas Transportation Commission on the development of bicycle tourism trails in this state. Sets forth requirements for recommendations on bicycle tourism trails developed under this section.
(b) Authorizes the department to contract with a statewide bicycle nonprofit organization for assistance in identifying, developing, promoting, or coordinating agreements and participation among political subdivisions of this state to advance bicycle tourism trails.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Effective on September 1, 2005.