HBA-MSH C.S.S.B. 1129 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 1129 By: Bernsen Transportation 5/18/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The National Scenic Byways Program is a federal program to recognize and enhance roads which have outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, or archaeological qualities. The Federal Highway Administration has $21 million in discretionary funding for this program for fiscal year 2001 and pays 80 percent of the costs of an eligible project. The creation of a state scenic byways program would allow the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to apply for these federal funds. C.S.S.B. 1129 requires TxDOT to study the feasibility of adopting a scenic byways program and to study current regulations affecting billboards in Texas, including vegetation control regulations. 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 C.S.S.B. 1129 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to study current regulations affecting billboards in Texas, including vegetation control regulations, and the feasibility of adopting a scenic byways program in accordance with the federal National Scenic Byways Program. The bill requires the department to report the findings of the study to the 78th Legislature not later than January 1, 2003. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.S.B. 1129 differs from the original by requiring the Texas Department of Transportation to study current regulations affecting billboards in Texas.