HBA-NRS S.B. 1109 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1109 By: Bernsen Transportation 5/17/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, some motorists experience delays due to congestion on the ferry service to the Bolivar Peninsula. Senate Bill 1109 allows an owner of a motor vehicle who obtains a ferry sticker priority boarding on the ferry service to and from the Bolivar Peninsula. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Transportation in SECTION 1 (Section 342.503, Transportation Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 1109 amends the Transportation Code to authorize an owner of a registered motor vehicle to apply to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for issuance of a sticker for the vehicle that entitles the vehicle to have priority in boarding the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry operated by TxDOT. The bill requires TxDOT to design the sticker and designate the place where a sticker must be affixed to the windshield of the motor vehicle for which it is issued. The bill provides an annual fee for a ferry vehicle sticker of $50 if the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle or $30 if the vehicle is any other type of motor vehicle. The bill requires TxDOT to deposit the annual fees to the credit of the state highway fund. The bill authorizes TxDOT to adopt rules to administer these provisions and requires TxDOT to prescribe forms necessary to administer the issuance of ferry vehicle stickers for the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.