BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3868

By: Moody

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that a portion of a trail running from New Mexico through El Paso and into Mexico City has been designated a national historic trail as the first Euro-American trade route. However, these parties note that the portion of the trail extending through El Paso County has not been awarded any historic designation. H.B. 3868 seeks to address this issue by recognizing the significance of that portion of the trail.

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. 3868 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Historical Commission to cooperate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to designate, interpret, and market Westside Drive in El Paso County as the Don Juan de Onate Trail and a Texas historic highway. The bill authorizes the commission and TxDOT to pursue federal funds dedicated to highway enhancement to supplement revenue available for the purposes of the designation, interpretation, and marketing and prohibits the designation from being construed as a designation under the federal National Historic Preservation Act. The bill establishes that TxDOT is not required to design, construct, or erect a marker for purposes of the designation unless a grant or donation of funds is made to TxDOT to cover the cost of the design, construction, and erection of the marker and requires money received to cover the cost of the marker to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.