BILL ANALYSIS
By: Macias
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, commissioners courts in counties with a population of 200,000 or more may go through an abbreviated and more cost effective process to issue a traffic regulation. Smaller counties have to endure added costs and time delays due to mandatory public hearings just to modify a traffic sign. It is estimated that 98% of these hearings have no one in attendance.
House Bill 3955 would allow commissioners courts in counties with a population of 78,000 or more to post a conspicuous sign in the area that would be affected by the traffic regulation change before issuing the traffic regulation, i.e. posting a new traffic sign. A public hearing would be required only if a resident requests one.
This change in the statute would allow the second-tier, fast-growing counties to enjoy the same efficiencies as the first-tier counties.
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
H.B. 3955 would amend Section 251.159(a) of the Transportation Code to lower the population restriction to 78,000.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.