AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
U.S. Highway 80 was one of the nation's first numbered highways, stretching from coast to coast between Georgia and California with a portion running through Gregg and Upshur counties. The highway provided an economic boom for East Texas and the Longview area specifically. Several businesses opened along the roadside, drawing people into Longview. Due to this history, citizens in Longview would like a portion of U.S. Highway 80 to be designated as an historic highway.
H.B. 3070 requires the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to cooperate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to designate, interpret, and market the portion of U.S. Highway 80 in Gregg and Upshur Counties as a Texas Historic Highway. The bill authorizes THC and TxDOT to pursue federal funds dedicated to highway enhancement for the purposes of this bill. TxDOT would not be required to design, construct, or erect a marker for that portion of U.S. Highway 80 unless a grant or donation of funds is made to cover all costs.
H.B. 3070 amends current law relating to the designation of U.S. Highway 80 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 Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, by adding Section 442.028, as follows:
Sec. 442.028. U.S. HIGHWAY 80 AS TEXAS HISTORIC HIGHWAY. (a) Requires the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to cooperate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to designate, interpret, and market the portion of U.S. Highway 80 in Gregg and Upshur Counties as a Texas historic highway.
(b) Authorizes THC and TxDOT, to supplement revenue available for the purposes under Subsection (a), to pursue federal funds dedicated to highway enhancement.
(c) Prohibits a designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 80 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.).
(d) 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, 2013.