HBA-ALS C.S.H.B. 1681 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1681 By: Uher Transportation 34/6/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under federal law, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is required to inventory, inspect, and appraise all bridges located on public roads. Failure to comply with these federal regulations may result in loss of federal highway funding. Reviewing a bridge's structural design plan is often necessary in order for TxDOT to conduct an accurate inspection and appraisal. C.S.H.B.1681 requires a governmental entity to submit a copy of the final structural design plans for all newly constructed or rehabilitated public bridges to TxDOT to use in complying with federal law. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter J, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.804, as follows: Sec. 201.804. SUBMISSION OF BRIDGE DESIGN PLANS TO DEPARTMENT. (a) Provides that this section applies to a governmental entity that is authorized to construct or maintain a public road and that either constructs or rehabilitates a bridge, proposes to assume responsibility for a bridge that is constructed or rehabilitated by another person, or issues a permit for the construction or rehabilitation of a bridge by another person. (b) Requires the governmental entity to submit a copy of the final structural design plans for the bridge to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) before the 31st day after construction or rehabilitation is completed. (c) Requires TxDOT to use the information submitted under Subsection (b) to comply with 23 C.F.R. Part 650, Subpart C (National Bridge Inspection). SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute modifies the original in SECTION 1 (Section 201.804, Transportation Code) by requiring a governmental entity that constructs, rehabilitates, or issues a permit for the construction or rehabilitation of a bridge to submit to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) a copy of the final structural design plans for the bridge, rather than the structural design plans and any supporting documents required by TxDOT as required by the original bill.