79R1320 MTB-D

By:  Edwards                                                      H.B. No. 922



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to bridge improvement and safety.                                    
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 201.617 to read as follows:
	Sec. 201.617.  BRIDGE SAFETY.  In allocating state and 
federal funds for highway improvement projects, the department 
shall give the highest priority to a project for the rehabilitation 
or replacement of a bridge that has failed to meet state or federal 
safety requirements.
	SECTION 2.  (a) An interim committee is created to study the 
administration of bridge safety by the Texas Department of 
Transportation and to monitor progress by the Texas Department of 
Transportation in repairing and improving bridges that have failed 
to meet state or federal safety requirements.
	(b)  The committee consists of six members, of whom:                           
		(1)  three shall be appointed by the lieutenant 
governor from the members of the Senate Committee on Infrastructure 
Development and Security;  and
		(2)  three shall be appointed by the speaker of the 
house of representatives from the members of the House Committee on 
Transportation.
	(c)  The presiding officers appointing the members of the 
committee shall each appoint a presiding officer from among the 
members appointed to the committee.
	(d)  The committee shall convene at the call of the two 
presiding officers.  
	(e)  Not later than September 1, 2006, the committee shall 
report the committee's findings and recommendations to the 
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, 
and the members of the 79th Legislature.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.