HBA-MSH H.B. 1471 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1471
By: Turner, Bob
Public Safety
3/7/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas emergency call box program was initiated in 1993 in five roadway
sections in four counties.  The program consists of a system of emergency
telephone call boxes (system) which are designed to enable users of certain
state highways to request emergency and nonemergency response services.
Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation may not use state highway
funds for the system.  Therefore, the system relies upon public and private
entities to pay all direct and indirect costs for the system.  House Bill
1471 authorizes TxDOT to use money from the general revenue fund for the
system and expands the system to cover each area of the state that has
cellular phone coverage.  

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1471 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to use money deposited to the credit
of the general revenue fund to make an expenditure for the emergency call
box system (system).   The bill makes the duties of TxDOT as they relate to
the installment, operation, and maintenance of a system mandatory, rather
than optional.  The bill requires TxDOT to implement the system in each
area of the state that has cellular phone coverage.  The bill requires the
Commission on State Emergency Communications to provide oversight and
coordination of the system. The bill requires TxDOT to file annual reports
regarding the system with the legislature and the Legislative Budget Board.
The bill provides that the system is subject to the Texas Sunset Act and
expires on September 1, 2011. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.