BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3679

By: Isaac

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the manual and specifications for a uniform system of
traffic-control devices adopted by the Texas Transportation Commission should provide for signs informing motorists of the existence or location of facilities providing alternative fuels.
C.S.H.B. 3679 seeks to address this issue by requiring the manual and specifications for such a system to provide for the location of these facilities.

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. 3679 amends the Transportation Code to require the manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic-control devices adopted by the Texas Transportation Commission to provide for signs informing motorists of the location of facilities providing alternative fuels, including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, and propane, and electric vehicle charging stations.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3679 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.  Chapter 544, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 544.014 to read as follows: Sec. 544.014.  ALTERNATIVE FUELS SIGNS.  The manual and specifications adopted under Section 544.001 must provide for signs informing motorists of the existence or location of facilities providing alternative fuels including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, and electric vehicle charging stations.	SECTION 1.  Chapter 544, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 544.014 to read as follows: Sec. 544.014.  ALTERNATIVE FUELS SIGNS.  The manual and specifications adopted under Section 544.001 must provide for signs informing motorists of the location of facilities providing alternative fuels, including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, and propane, and electric vehicle charging stations.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.