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.