HBA-NRS H.B. 2616 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2616
By: Solis, Jim
Transportation
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Queen Isabella Causeway is the only route from mainland Texas to South
Padre Island.  A second causeway has been proposed and funding proposals
were made which call for each causeway to include a toll facility. Tolling
both causeways would primarily impact those who commute to work to  either
South Padre Island or from the island to the surrounding area of mainland
Texas.  House Bill 2616 prohibits the Texas Transportation Commission from
converting to a turnpike project the Queen Isabella Causeway in Cameron
County.  

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 2616 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit the Texas
Transportation Commission from converting the Queen Isabella Causeway in
Cameron County from a free state highway to a turnpike project and from
transferring the Queen Isabella Causeway to a regional tollway authority.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.