BILL ANALYSIS
By: Van de Putte
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
S.B. 678 establishes Interstate Highway 35 as the official Purple Heart Trail Highway of Texas and further stipulates that signs and demarcations be produced indicating so at least once every 100 miles. The purpose of the Purple Heart Trail is to commemorate for the people of Texas the patriotic American heritage given to us by our servicemen and servicewomen. This bill is intended to memorialize those servicepersons who have had the Purple Heart medal bestowed upon them or their next of kin for wounds received in combat in defense of our nation.
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 B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, by adding Section 225.0225, as follows:
Sec. 225.0225. PURPLE HEART TRAIL. (a) Sets forth that the part of Interstate Highway 35 located in Texas is the Texas portion of the national Purple Heart Trail.
(b) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to design and construct markers indicating the highway number, the designation as the Purple Heart Trail, and any other appropriate information.
(c) Requires TxDOT to erect a marker at each end of the highway and at intermediate sites along the highway that TxDOT determines are appropriate. Prohibits the intermediate sites from being farther apart than 100 miles.
(d) Requires TxDOT, notwithstanding Subsections (b) and (c), to design, construct, and erect the markers only to the extent that money is available for this purpose from donations received from local Purple Heart organizations.
(e) Requires money received under Subsection (d) to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund for dedication under this section.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.