BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 60

By: Hinojosa, Gina

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties report that a number of public school districts pay toll charges incurred by buses in the daily transport of students and that an exemption from these charges not only would be similar to other exemptions afforded to school buses but also could leave funds available for other purposes. H.B. 60 seeks to address this issue by prohibiting a regional mobility authority from requiring certain public school buses to pay a toll.

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. 60 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit a regional mobility authority from requiring a school bus exempt from vehicle registration fees to pay a toll for use of an authority toll project. The bill expressly does not affect the ability of an authority to adopt policies or rules regarding the use of the authority's facilities, including policies or rules prohibiting the use of the authority's facilities by vehicles unable to maintain minimum designated travel speeds.

EFFECTIVE DATE

December 1, 2017.