AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The George W. Bush Presidential Center opened on April 25, 2013, on the campus of Southern Methodist University. The center, at the southwest corner of SMU Boulevard and US 75 (North Central Expressway), includes former President George W. Bush's presidential library and museum, a major attraction for tourists and scholars.

 

H.B. 3520 seeks to name the adjacent four mile portion of North Central Expressway (between its intersection with Knox Street/North Henderson Avenue and its intersection with Northwest Highway) as the George W. Bush Expressway to honor President Bush and assist those seeking the Bush Center and Presidential Library. The designation is in addition to any other designation.

 

H.B. 3520 amends current law relating to the designation of a segment of U.S. Highway 75 in Dallas County as the George W. Bush Expressway.

 

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 225.0331, as follows:

 

Sec. 225.0331.  GEORGE W. BUSH EXPRESSWAY.  (a) Provides that, notwithstanding Section 225.001(c) (relating to authorizing a part of the highway system to be designated by the name of a person only if the person meets certain criteria), the portion of U.S. Highway 75 in Dallas County between its intersection with Knox Street/North Henderson Avenue and its intersection with Northwest Highway is designated as the George W. Bush Expressway.  Provides that the designation is in addition to any other designation.

 

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), subject to Subsection (d), to design and construct markers indicating the designation as the George W. Bush Expressway and any other appropriate information and erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

 

(c) Requires TxDOT accept a grant or donation made to assist in financing the construction and maintenance of a marker under this section.

 

(d) Prohibits TxDOT from designing, constructing, or erecting 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.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.