BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1384

By: Bell

County Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that there are private companies that wish to make certain donations to counties to help in the repair and improvement of certain designated public roads within set time frames. The parties note, however, that not all counties have express authority to accept such donations. C.S.H.B. 1384 seeks to address this issue in regard to a county operating under the county road department system.

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. 1384 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county operating under the county road department system to accept donations of labor, money, or other property to aid in the building or maintaining of roads in the county.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1384 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 D, Chapter 252, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 252.314 to read as follows: Sec. 252.314.  DONATIONS.  (a)  A commissioners court or the county road department may accept donations of labor, money, or other property to aid in the building or maintaining of roads in the county. (b)  A county operating under the county road department system on September 1, 2013, may use the authority granted under this section without holding a new election under Section 252.301.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 252, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 252.314 to read as follows: Sec. 252.314.  DONATIONS.  A commissioners court may accept donations of labor, money, or other property to aid in the building or maintaining of roads in the county. No equivalent provision.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.