BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3947

By: Davis, Yvonne

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that many individuals with disabilities rely on public transportation as their primary mode of travel, including getting to their jobs, doctor appointments, grocery stores, and other daily activities that many take for granted. Additionally, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits a transit agency from denying anyone with a disability the opportunity to use the agency's public transportation services if the individual is capable of using that service. The bill author has also informed the committee that public transportation is a very impactful and necessary service, particularly for providing access to individuals who work. H.B. 3947 seeks to expand access to this essential public service and increase families' self-sufficiency and economic mobility by requiring each metropolitan planning organization, in developing a 10-year transportation plan under the unified transportation program, to consider the transportation needs of individuals who receive services from the Health and Human Services Commission or the Texas Workforce Commission.

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. 3947 amends the Transportation Code to require each metropolitan planning organization, in developing a 10-year transportation plan under the unified transportation program, to consider the transportation needs of individuals who receive services from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) or the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The bill requires a metropolitan planning organization that requests financial assistance from the Texas Transportation Commission for a project in the statewide transportation plan to submit evidence to the Texas Transportation Commission that transportation providers within the boundaries of the planning organization have considered meeting the transportation needs of individuals who receive services from HHSC or TWC, including by adjusting the providers' fixed routes to address the needs of those individuals.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.