BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 250

By: Miller, Doug

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texans lost a valuable member of the law enforcement community with the death of Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper Randall "Randy" Vetter. Trooper Vetter was a native of New Braunfels, graduated from Canyon High School in 1990 as valedictorian, and graduated in May 1994 from St. Edward’s University where he majored in criminal justice and minored in psychology. He was in DPS Class B, which graduated in 1995. He was stationed in Brownsville until August 1996 when he transferred to New Braunfels, and he transferred to San Marcos in July 2000. He was shot while on duty on August 3, 2000, and died on August 7, 2000, at the age of 28. He is survived by his wife and son. C.S.H.B. 250 seeks to honor Trooper Randall "Randy" Vetter and his memory with a fitting tribute to his selfless service and contributions to Texas.

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

C.S.H.B. 250 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of Interstate Highway 35 between River Ridge Parkway and Farm-to-Market Road 150 in Hays County as the Trooper Randy Vetter Memorial Highway, in addition to any other designation.  The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation, subject to a grant or donation of funds, to design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Trooper Randy Vetter Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information and to erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 250 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 225.091 to read as follows: Sec. 225.091.  TROOPER RANDY VETTER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of Interstate Highway 35 between River Ridge Parkway and Farm-to-Market Road 150 in Hays County is designated as the Trooper Randy Vetter Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b)  Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1)  design and construct markers indicating the highway number, the designation as the Trooper Randy Vetter Memorial Highway, and any other appropriate information; and (2)  erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 225.091 to read as follows: Sec. 225.091.  TROOPER RANDY VETTER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of Interstate Highway 35 between River Ridge Parkway and Farm-to-Market Road 150 in Hays County is designated as the Trooper Randy Vetter Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b)  Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1)  design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Trooper Randy Vetter Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2)  erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.