BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 5342

By: Guillen

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The addition of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) building in Starr County has raised interest relating to a proposed designation. Local leaders have proposed the building designation as the Eduardo "Eddie" Gracia, Jr., P.E Area Engineer And Maintenance Facility honoring the more than 30 years of service Eduardo Gracia gave to TxDOT as head engineer. H.B. 5342 seeks to commemorate the lifelong commitment that Eduardo Gracia gave to TxDOT by designating the building in which the office of the area engineer for Starr County is located on June 1, 2023, as the Eduardo "Eddie" Gracia, Jr., P.E Area Engineer And Maintenance Facility.

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. 5342 amends the Transportation Code to designate the building in which the office of the area engineer for Starr County is located on June 1, 2023, as the Eduardo "Eddie" Gracia, Jr., P.E Area Engineer And Maintenance Facility. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation, subject to a grant or donation of funds, to do the following:

· design and construct markers on the site indicating the designation as the Eduardo "Eddie" Gracia, Jr., P.E Area Engineer And Maintenance Facility and any other appropriate information; and

· erect a marker at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

The bill requires money received to design and construct such markers to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.