BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 82

By: Flynn

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Martin Luther King, Jr., was instrumental in helping Americans realize and rectify unspeakable flaws that tarnished the nation's name.  Dr. King was able to show us the way to mend those broken fences and to move on in building America, rather than destroying it.  Dr. King led campaign after campaign in the streets of America, the governor's mansion, and to the White House in an effort to secure change.  Today, Black Americans have federal legislation that provides access and legal protection in the areas of public accommodations, housing, voting rights, schools, and transportation.  These rights were not easily won or readily accepted.

Dr. King lived and died to eliminate discrimination and encourage that each person be judged by his or her character and not by the color of his or her skin.  His accomplishments make it seem appropriate to establish recognition for his heroism and accomplishments for future generations to remember.

Texas Interstate Highway 30 stretches from Fort Worth to Texarkana and up into Arkansas.  One of the earliest sections completed was a section between Dallas and Greenville.  Interstate 30 has been an invaluable resource for the citizens of that area since it was built in 1959.

H.B. 82 designates the portion of Interstate Highway 30 located in the corporate limits of the city of Greenville as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Freeway.

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. 82 amends the Transportation Code to designate the part of Interstate Highway 30 in the corporate limits of the city of Greenville, in Hunt County, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Freeway.  The bill requires the department to erect a marker at each end of the freeway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the freeway. The bill makes it provisions requiring design, construction, and erection of a marker subject to a grant or donation of funds to the Texas Department of Transportation to cover the cost. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.