BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 3421

82R13391 JXC-F

By: Miller, Doug (Wentworth)

 

Transportation & Homeland Security

 

5/17/2011

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The El Camino Real de las Tejas National Historic Trail (trail) runs from the East Texas border near San Augustine to the South Texas border around Laredo.  The trail was originally established to connect a series of missions and posts between Monclova, Mexico, and Los Andaes, the first capital of the province of Texas.  The trail constitutes the only primary overland route from the Rio Grande to the Red River Valley in Louisiana during the Spanish Colonial Period from 1690-1821.

 

The United States Congress added the Trail to the National Trails Systems on October 14, 2004, and its designation commemorates significant historic routes extending from the United States-Mexico international border at the Rio Grande to the eastern boundary of the Spanish  province of Texas in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

 

H.B. 3421 amends current law relating to the designation of the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail as a historic highway.

 

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 442.021, Government Code, by adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f), as follows:

 

(c)  Requires the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to cooperate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to designate, interpret, and market the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail as a Texas historic highway.

 

(d)  Authorizes THC and TxDOT, to supplement revenue available for the purposes under Subsection (c), to pursue federal funds dedicated to highway enhancement.

 

(e)  Prohibits a designation of the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail as a Texas historic highway from being construed as a designation under the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. Section 470 et seq.).

 

(f)  Provides that TxDOT is not required to design, construct, or erect a marker under this section unless a grant or donation of funds is made to TxDOT to cover the cost of the design, construction, and erection of the marker.  Requires that money received to cover the cost of the marker be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2011.