BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 521 81R3653 SLB-D By: Averitt Transportation & Homeland Security 2/27/2009 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, the Highway Memorial Sign Program administered by the Texas Department of Transportation allows for only one name to be shown on an individual sign. Because of some situations a family unit is prohibited from sharing the same family or last name. A constituent of Senate District 22 tragically lost her daughter, her unborn grandchild, and her daughter's fianc because of a drunk driver. Because only one family or last name can be present on the highway memorial sign, the constituent had to purchase multiple signs to memorialize her loved ones. As proposed, S.B. 521 provides that a highway memorial sign is authorized to include the names of more than one victim so long as the total length of the names does not exceed 21 characters. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 201.909, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1), as follows: (c) Requires that a sign designed and posted under this section include the phrase "In Memory Of" and the name of one or more victims in accordance with the Texas Transportation Commission rule, rather than the name of the victim in whose memory the sign is placed. (c-1) Authorizes the sign to include the names of more than one victim so long as the total length of the names does not exceed 21 characters, including spaces. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 521
81R3653 SLB-D By: Averitt
Transportation & Homeland Security
2/27/2009
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the Highway Memorial Sign Program administered by the Texas Department of Transportation allows for only one name to be shown on an individual sign. Because of some situations a family unit is prohibited from sharing the same family or last name. A constituent of Senate District 22 tragically lost her daughter, her unborn grandchild, and her daughter's fianc because of a drunk driver. Because only one family or last name can be present on the highway memorial sign, the constituent had to purchase multiple signs to memorialize her loved ones.
As proposed, S.B. 521 provides that a highway memorial sign is authorized to include the names of more than one victim so long as the total length of the names does not exceed 21 characters.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 201.909, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1), as follows:
(c) Requires that a sign designed and posted under this section include the phrase "In Memory Of" and the name of one or more victims in accordance with the Texas Transportation Commission rule, rather than the name of the victim in whose memory the sign is placed.
(c-1) Authorizes the sign to include the names of more than one victim so long as the total length of the names does not exceed 21 characters, including spaces.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.