HBA-NRS H.B. 1677 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1677
By: Burnam
Transportation
4/22/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

School children in Texas face obstacles that may prevent them from walking
to school safely, including the lack of sidewalk infrastructure and
difficulties crossing multilane roadways. Such obstacles may be remedied by
using federal funds received by the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) under the Hazard Elimination Program.  House Bill 1677 earmarks a
portion of federal hazard elimination funds for safety improvements along
school routes.  

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 1677 amends the Transportation Code to provide that, in each of
the first five fiscal years that begin on or after September 1, 2001,
one-third of all money received by the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) from the United States under the Hazard Elimination Program may be
used only for projects that are located in high-hazard locations near
schools in municipalities and counties and that provide for the
construction or installation of traffic-calming measures in those locations
or are designed to improve bicycle or pedestrian safety in those locations.
The bill requires TxDOT to establish and administer a Safe Routes to School
Program to distribute money received under the Hazard Elimination Program
to counties and municipalities for certain projects to improve safety near
schools. The bill requires TxDOT to consider certain factors  in
considering whether to approve a grant. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.