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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1497

By: Kacal

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

There have been calls to recognize the life and legacy of Dr. Ric Bennett, a beloved husband, father, friend, and veterinarian from Coolidge who practiced in Mexia. C.S.H.B. 1497 seeks to provide this recognition by designating a portion of State Highway 171 between Mexia and Coolidge as the Dr. Ric Bennett, DVM, Memorial Highway in his honor.

 

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. 1497 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of State Highway 171 in Limestone County between the northern municipal limits of Mexia and its intersection with westbound Farm-to-Market Road 73 within the municipal limits of Coolidge as the Dr. Ric Bennett, DVM, Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation, subject to a grant or donation of funds, to design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Dr. Ric Bennett, DVM, 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.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2021.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1497 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

The original designated the memorial highway as the Dr. Joe F. (Ric) Bennett Jr., DVM, Memorial Highway. The substitute changes the name of the highway to the Dr. Ric Bennett, DVM, Memorial Highway.