BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 602

                                                                                                                                              By: Ellis

Culture, Recreation, & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

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.

C.S.S.B. 602 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 Transportation Commission on the development, improvement, and expansion of bicycle tourism trails.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution 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 the Texas   Department of Transportation Bicycle Advisory 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

September 1, 2005

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

S.B. 602 requires a bicycle advisory committee to advise the Texas Department of Transportation on the development, improvement and expansion of bicycle tourism trails.

C.S.S.B. 602 requires a bicycle advisory committee to advise the Texas Transportation Commission on the development, improvement and expansion of bicycle tourism trails.

S.B. 602 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to establish a bicycle advisory committee, however, the Texas Department of Transportation Bicycle Advisory Committee is already in existence.