HBA-MPA H.B. 1779 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1779
By: Alexander
Transportation
3/6/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation's (department)
administrative rule for eligibility of placement of a business logo on a
specific information logo sign for a commercial establishment is that it
"be located with driveway access to the access road (frontage road), ramp,
or intersecting crossroad." (Title 43, Section 25.406(a)(2), Texas
Administrative Code). 

Some hotels can easily be seen from, and are very close to, the highway,
but do not have immediate driveway access to the access road, ramp, or
crossroad.  Under the department's current rule, these hotels do not
qualify for a business logo on a specific information logo sign.  This lack
of notification can lead to drivers missing the exit for the hotel and
having to turn around, sometimes miles down the road, to return to the
hotel exit.  Under Section 391.093(a), Transportation Code, to be eligible
for a specific information logo sign, commercial establishments must "be
located not more than three miles from an interchange on an eligible
highway." 

H.B. 1779 allows a lodging establishment to be eligible for a specific
information logo sign if the establishment is visible from an eligible
highway or highway interchange and is located on a street not more than two
turns off the access or frontage road to the eligible highway.  


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Transportation
in SECTION 1 (Section 391.093, Transportation Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 391.093, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (f), as follows: 

(f)  Requires the Texas Department of Transportation, by rule, to provide
that a lodging establishment is eligible to have its name displayed on a
specific information logo sign if it is visible from an eligible highway or
interchange, and located on a street not more than two turns off the access
or frontage road of that highway. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.