BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2680

By: Collier

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

On October 12th, 2019, 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson was wrongfully killed by a Fort Worth police officer. Ms. Jefferson's concerned neighbor called the non-emergency police number for a welfare check when they noticed her door was open. When police arrived, Ms. Jefferson looked out her window after hearing some noise and was shot and killed within seconds by an officer on the scene. The officer who killed Ms. Jefferson was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 11 years and 10 months in prison. During the trial, family and friends spoke of Ms. Jefferson's life, her role as a caregiver for her late mother, and her ambitions. Atatiana Jefferson was a pre-medical graduate of Xavier University and had hopes to become a doctor. Given the significance of both her life and the events surrounding her death, Atatiana Jefferson deserves to be properly memorialized within her community. H.B. 2680 seeks to honor and memorialize the life of Atatiana Jefferson by designating a portion of Interstate Highway 35W in Fort Worth, Texas, as the Atatiana Jefferson Memorial Highway.

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

H.B. 2680 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of Interstate Highway 35W in Fort Worth between its intersections with Interstate Highway 20 and East Lancaster Avenue as the Atatiana Jefferson Memorial Highway. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation, subject to a grant or donation of funds, to do the following:

· design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Atatiana Jefferson Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and

· erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.