By: Rodríguez, et al. S.B. No. 928

(Pickett)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Tom Lea Trail.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 442.019 to read as follows:

Sec. 442.019. TOM LEA TRAIL. (a) The commission shall develop a Tom Lea Trail program to commemorate the life and art of Tom Lea.

(b) The program, at a minimum, shall include:

(1) designation of locations that are historically significant to the life and art of Tom Lea;

(2) adoption of an icon, symbol, or other identifying device to represent a designation under this section;

(3) the use of the icon, symbol, or other identifying device in promoting tourism around this state by the commission and at locations designated under this section; and

(4) the development of itineraries and maps to guide tourists to locations designated under this section.

(c) The commission shall adopt:

(1) eligibility criteria for a designation under this section; and

(2) procedures to administer the program created under this section.

(d) A historic marker or sign relating to the life and art of Tom Lea that is erected or maintained pursuant to the program adopted under this section must be located not more than five miles from a location designated under Subsection (b)(1).

(e) The commission may, as necessary, enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office and the Texas Department of Transportation to implement this section.

(f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and other donations from any source to implement this section. The commission is not required to promote or market the Tom Lea Trail unless the commission receives funds raised from private entities for that purpose.

(g) The following segments of highway shall constitute the Tom Lea Trail:

(1) Interstate Highway 10 from its intersection with the northern municipal boundary of El Paso to its intersection with Interstate Highway 20;

(2) Interstate Highway 20 from its intersection with Interstate Highway 10 to its intersection with the western municipal boundary of Sweetwater;

(3) Interstate Highway 20 from its intersection with the eastern municipal boundary of Sweetwater to its intersection with U.S. Highway 277;

(4) U.S. Highway 277 from its intersection with Interstate Highway 10 to its intersection with State Highway 114 in Seymour;

(5) State Highway 114 from its intersection with U.S. Highway 277 in Seymour to its intersection with State Highway 199;

(6) State Highway 199 from its intersection with U.S. Highway 281 to its intersection with Interstate Highway 30;

(7) Interstate Highway 30 from its intersection with State Highway 199 to its intersection with Interstate Highway 35 East in Dallas;

(8) Interstate Highway 35 East from its intersection with Interstate Highway 30 in Dallas to its intersection with State Highway 6 outside of the southern municipal boundary of Waco;

(9) State Highway 6 from its intersection with Interstate 35 East to its intersection with State Highway 30 in College Station;

(10) State Highway 30 from its intersection with State Highway 6 in College Station to its intersection with Interstate Highway 45;

(11) Interstate Highway 45 from its intersection with State Highway 30 to its terminus in Galveston;

(12) State Highway 21 from its intersection with State Highway 6 to its intersection with U.S. Highway 290;

(13) U.S. Highway 290 from its intersection with State Highway 21 to its intersection with the eastern municipal boundary of Austin;

(14) U.S. Highway 290 from its intersection with the western municipal boundary of Austin to its intersection with the eastern municipal boundary of Fredericksburg;

(15) U.S. Highway 290 from its intersection with the western municipal boundary of Fredericksburg to its intersection with Interstate Highway 10;

(16) Interstate Highway 10 from its intersection with U.S. Highway 290:

(A) west to its intersection with U.S. Highway 385; and

(B) east to its intersection with Interstate Highway 37;

(17) U.S. Highway 385 from its intersection with Interstate Highway 10 to its intersection with the southern municipal boundary of Odessa;

(18) Interstate Highway 37 from its intersection with Interstate Highway 10 to its intersection with U.S. Highway 77;

(19) U.S. Highway 77 from its intersection with Interstate Highway 37 to its intersection with the northern municipal boundary of Kingsville;

(20) U.S. Highway 77 from its intersection with the southern municipal boundary of Kingsville to its intersection with State Highway 285 in Riviera; and

(21) State Highway 285 from its intersection with U.S. Highway 77 in Riviera to its intersection with the eastern municipal boundary of Hebbronville.

(h) In this section, a reference to a municipal boundary means that boundary as it exists on September 1, 2017.

(i) A designation of highway segments as the Tom Lea Trail may not be construed as a designation under the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. Section 300101 et seq.).

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.