BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3955
80R7194 JLL-D By: Macias (Wentworth)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, commissioners courts in counties with a population of 200,000 or more are authorized to use an abbreviated and more cost-effective process to issue a traffic regulation. Smaller counties are required to publish notice and conduct public hearings for something as minor as modifying a traffic sign, even when not requested or desired by the public.
H.B. 3955 authorizes commissioners courts in counties with a population of 78,000 or more to post a conspicuous sign in an area that would be affected by a traffic regulation change before issuing the traffic regulation or posting a new traffic sign. A public hearing would be required only if a resident requests one.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 251.159(a), Transportation Code, to provide that this section (Delegation of Commissioners’ Authority) applies only to a county with a population of more that 78,000, rather than 200,000.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.