BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 228
86R3132 MP-D	By: Hinojosa
	Transportation
	3/4/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 228 would designate a portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Brooks County between its intersection with County Road 304 and Farm-to-Market Road 775 as Corporal Roel Garcia Memorial Highway. Corporal Roel Garcia joined the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 1981. He took his DPS mission to heart, as well as his service to the department, and for that he was recognized for his apprehension of drunk drivers and recovered stolen vehicles. He was also recognized for his expertise in drug interdiction and was responsible for several large drug seizures, as well as several large United States currency seizures. Corporal Garcia served as a field training officer to many probationary troopers, was a driving instructor and participated in many criminal interdiction task forces, where he had the opportunity to pass on his expertise to other troopers who became successful in criminal interdiction. On March 26, 1997, after serving 16 years with DPS, Corporal Roel Garcia was traveling to McAllen, Texas, to participate in criminal interdiction task force when he was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 281 in Encino, Texas. During Corporal Garcia�s career, he dedicated himself in protecting the citizens of Texas and he prided himself in his accomplishments with traffic and criminal law enforcement.

As proposed, S.B. 228 amends current law relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 281 as the Corporal Roel Garcia Memorial Highway.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, by adding Section 225.152, as follows:

Sec. 225.152. CORPORAL ROEL GARCIA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) Provides that the portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Brooks County between its intersection with County Road 304 and Farm-to-Market Road 755 is designated as the Corporal Roel Garcia Memorial Highway.

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), subject to Section 225.021(c) (relating to prohibiting TxDOT from designing, constructing, or erecting a marker unless a grant or donation of funds is made to cover the costs), to design and construct markers indicating the designation as Corporal Roel Garcia 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.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.