BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 349

By: Darby

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The recent passing of William Crooker has sparked calls for recognition of his honorable military service in World War II and his lengthy public service as Howard County commissioner. Interested parties believe that his generosity and exceptional leadership displayed as county commissioner deserve an appropriate acknowledgement. C.S.H.B. 349 seeks to honor William Crooker's accomplishments with a memorial highway designation.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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. 349 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of U.S. Highway 87 under construction as of September 1, 2015, as a relief route around Big Spring, between Interstate Highway 20 and Ranch Road 33, in Howard County as the William B. Crooker Memorial Highway, in addition to any other designation. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), subject to receipt of a grant or donation of funds, to design and construct markers indicating the designation as the William B. Crooker 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. The bill requires TxDOT to comply with the bill's provisions after the construction of the portion of U.S. Highway 87 designated as the William B. Crooker Memorial Highway by the bill is complete.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 349 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted 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 225.102 to read as follows:

Sec. 225.102.  WILLIAM B. (BILL) CROOKER TRUCK RELIEF ROUTE. (a) Notwithstanding Section 225.001(c), the U.S. Highway 87 truck relief route, if any,

 

 

 

in Howard County is designated as the William B. (Bill) Crooker Truck Relief Route.  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 William B. (Bill) Crooker Truck Relief Route 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 225.102 to read as follows:

Sec. 225.102.  WILLIAM B. CROOKER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) Notwithstanding Section 225.001(c), the portion of U.S. Highway 87 under construction as of September 1, 2015, as a relief route around Big Spring, between Interstate Highway 20 and Ranch Road 33, in Howard County is designated as the William B. Crooker 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 William B. Crooker 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.

 

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 2.  The Texas Department of Transportation shall comply with Section 225.102, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, after the construction of the portion of U.S. Highway 87 designated as the William B. Crooker Memorial Highway by this Act is complete.

 

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.