BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 2201

81R14660 KJM-D                                                                                               By: Hughes (Eltife)

Transportation & Homeland Security

5/7/2009

Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas State Trooper Todd Dylan Holmes of Gilmer, Texas, was killed in the line of duty on March 14, 2007, at the age of 29.  The overpass located at U.S. Highway 259 intersecting State Highway 155 in Upshur County was included in Trooper Holmes' area of patrol and is only a few miles from his home.

H.B. 2201 provides that the structure on U.S. Highway 259 that passes over State Highway 155 in Upshur County is designated as the Trooper Todd Dylan Holmes Memorial Overpass.  The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to design and construct markers indicating the highway number and the designation as the Trooper Todd Dylan Holmes Memorial Overpass and to erect the markers so that they are visible to vehicles approaching and traveling under the structure.

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, by adding Section 225.080, as follows:

Sec. 225.080.  TROOPER TODD DYLAN HOLMES MEMORIAL OVERPASS.  (a)  Provides that the structure on U.S. Highway 259 that passes over State Highway 155 in Upshur County is designated as the Trooper Todd Dylan Holmes Memorial Overpass.

(b)  Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), subject to Section 225.021(c) (relating to TxDOT being not required to design, construct, or erect a marker under this subchapter unless certain conditions are met), to design and construct markers indicating the highway number, the designation as the Trooper Todd Dylan Holmes Memorial Overpass, and any other appropriate information, and to erect a marker at each end of the structure and at appropriate intermediate sites along the structure, including a site that is visible to a vehicle traveling on State Highway 155 as the vehicle travels under the structure and on each side of State Highway 155 at a site that is visible to approaching vehicles.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2009.