BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 663

By: King, Ken

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Appreciative citizens note that William Hamblen was an early twentieth-century resident of Palo Duro Canyon who helped to facilitate county business by enlisting the help of neighbors to construct a crude road in the form of a wagon trail that later became known as "Hamblen Drive" and eventually became part of State Highway 207. H.B. 663 seeks to name a portion of State Highway 207 in memory of William Hamblen.

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

H.B. 663 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of State Highway 207 in Armstrong County between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2272 and Farm-to-Market Road 285 as the Hamblen Memorial Highway. 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 Hamblen 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

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.