BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1134
86R12360 JAM-D	By: Watson
	Transportation
	3/18/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Master Sgt. Jonathan Dunbar grew up in North Austin and attended Conley High School, after which he joined the U.S. Army. In 2018 he was the first U.S. service member killed in action and was subsequently buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

At the time of his death, Master Sgt. Dunbar was stationed to U.S. Army Special Operations command headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was killed in Syria while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the military intervention against ISIS.

While in the army, Master Sgt. Dunbar deployed many times in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. His awards and decorations are numerous and include the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, five Good Conduct Medals, Army Commendation Award, plus several posthumous medals.

Master Sgt. Dunbar left behind a son in Austin, and a wife and three children in North Carolina. His youngest child was born weeks after his funeral.

S.B. 1134 designates the portion of Farm-to-Market Road 734, known as Parmer Lane in the city of Austin, between Metric Blvd. and Lamar Blvd., as the Sergeant Jonathan J. Dunbar Memorial Parkway.

As proposed, S.B. 1134 amends current law relating to the designation of a portion of Farm‑to‑Market Road 734 in Austin as the Sergeant Jonathan J. Dunbar Memorial Parkway.

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. SERGEANT JONATHAN J. DUNBAR MEMORIAL PARKWAY. (a) Designates the portion of Farm-to-Market Road 734 (Parmer Lane) in the city of Austin between its intersection with Metric Boulevard and Lamar Boulevard as the Sergeant Jonathan J. Dunbar Memorial Parkway.

(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 cost), to design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Sergeant Jonathan J. Dunbar Memorial Parkway 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: September 1, 2019.