BILL ANALYSIS
By: Noriega, Rick
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, populous municipalities and counties are permitted to conduct commercial motor vehicle inspections. These cities and counties are required to pay all costs associated with enforcement and are prohibited from receiving federal grants related to commercial motor vehicle regulations and inspections. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is given primary oversight of all commercial motor vehicle regulation and certification in Texas and collects fees from municipalities and/or counties to recover the costs of certifying peace officers for commercial motor vehicle inspections. DPS is the only entity in Texas that can receive federal money for the above stated purpose.
C.S.H.B. 563 would allow counties and municipalities to receive High Priority Activity Fund Grants provided under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
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
C.S.H.B. 563 amends Transportation Code Section 644.102 by providing that a municipality or county is not prohibited from receiving High Priority Activity Funds provided under the federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B. 563 allows a municipality to receive grants only from the High Priority Activity Funds provided in the Federal Motor Vehicle Carrier Safety Assistance program. The original granted a municipality or county access to other federal grants related to Chapter 644, Transportation Code.