BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 3441

                                                                                                                              By: Phillips (Estes)

                                                                                                 Transportation & Homeland Security

                                                                                                                                            5/17/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law authorizes the placing of  tourist-oriented directional signs on a noncontrolled-access highway outside a town with a population of 5,000 or more.  This regulation is intended to mirror current federal regulations.  However, it is anticipated that the federal regulations may be expanded.  Statutory changes that directly tie state requirements regarding the placement of those signs to federal regulation may provide for future adaptation to federal changes in such regulation without further state legislation.

 

H.B. 3441 redefines "eligible highway" in order to authorize the Texas Transportation Commission to adopt rules regarding state requirements for sign placement to mirror federal requirements. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Transportation Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 391.099(a)(2), Transportation Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 391.099(a)(2), Transportation Code, to redefine "eligible highway."

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.