BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1091

By: Nichols

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that while toll entities may establish a discount program for eligible veterans, there are concerns that these programs do not limit the number of toll transponders a veteran qualifying for such a discount may obtain. C.S.S.B. 1091 seeks to address this issue by authorizing a cap on the number of transponders that may be issued under such a toll discount program.

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.S.B. 1091 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a toll project entity to cap at two the number of transponders issued to an electronic toll collection customer for which free or discounted use of the entity's toll project is provided under a veteran discount program. The bill requires a toll project entity that adopts such a cap to allow a program participant to be issued one extra transponder on a demonstration of hardship by the participant, as determined by the entity.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 1091 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes an authorization for a toll project entity to cap the number of transponders issued to an electronic toll collection customer participating in a veteran discount program. The substitute includes a requirement for a toll project entity that adopts such a cap to allow a program participant to be issued one extra transponder on demonstration of hardship.

The substitute does not include a limitation on the vehicles for which an electronic toll collection customer may receive free or discounted use of a toll project under such a program.