HBA-MPA H.B. 2979 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2979 By: Hamric Transportation 4/23/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is a growing impetus in the state to encourage the use of recycled products whenever feasible. This helps to reduce the amount of material going into landfills, space for which is becoming not only scarce, but more costly. H.B. 2979 reduces the amount of retainage that the Texas Department of Transportation withholds until completion of a project from five percent of the total to four percent when approved recycled materials are used. This voluntary program is a tool to be used to encourage the use of recycled materials in highway projects. 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 Section 223.010, Transportation Code, to require four percent of the contract price for a highway project to be retained until the entire improvement has been completed and accepted on any contract that includes the use of recycled materials. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.