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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of an establishment to be included on a |
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specific information logo sign along a highway. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 391.001(2), (9), and (12), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Eligible highway" means a highway along which an |
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information logo sign may be located as determined by the |
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commission under Section 391.092(d) [that:
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[(A)
is located outside an urbanized area with a
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population of 50,000 or more and qualifies for a maximum speed limit
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of 65 miles per hour under 23 U.S.C. Section 154 or, if that law is
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repealed, qualified for a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour
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on the day before the effective date of the repeal; or
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[(B)
is a controlled-access highway located
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inside an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more]. |
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(9) "Major shopping area guide sign" means a |
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rectangular guide sign panel imprinted with the name of a major |
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shopping area eligible to have its name displayed as determined by |
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the commission under Section 391.0935 [, as it is commonly known to
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the public,] and containing directional information to the major |
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shopping area. |
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(12) "Specific information logo sign" means a |
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rectangular sign imprinted with the words "GAS," "FOOD," "LODGING," |
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[or] "CAMPING," or "24 HOUR Rx," or with a combination of those |
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words, and the specific brand names of commercial establishments |
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offering those services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 391.092, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(d) The commission shall adopt rules, in accordance with |
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applicable federal law, regulations, and guidelines, for |
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determining eligible highways along which specific information |
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logo signs, major shopping area guide signs, and tourist-oriented |
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directional signs may be located. If permitted by federal law, |
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regulations, or guidelines, the commission may establish different |
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highway eligibility criteria for each type of sign. |
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(e) In this section, "tourist-oriented directional signs" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 391.099. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 391.0935(a), (b), (d), and (f), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Unless the commission determines there is a conflict |
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with federal law, the commission shall establish a program that |
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allows the erection and maintenance of major shopping area guide |
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signs at appropriate locations along eligible [urban] highways. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules regulating the |
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content, composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of |
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major shopping area guide signs and supports within eligible |
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[urban] highway rights-of-way. The commission by rule shall |
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establish criteria for determining if a geographic area contains a |
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sufficient concentration of retail establishments to be considered |
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a major shopping area. A major shopping area is entitled to have |
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its name displayed on major shopping area guide signs if it meets |
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the criteria established by the commission and is located not |
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farther than three miles from an interchange on an eligible [urban] |
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highway. |
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(d) Major shopping area guide signs may be included as part |
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of exit direction signs, advance guide signs, and supplemental |
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guide signs and must include guide signs for both directions of |
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traffic on an eligible [urban] highway. |
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(f) The commission may contract with an individual, firm, |
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group, or association in this state to erect and maintain major |
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shopping area guide signs at appropriate locations along an |
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eligible [urban] highway. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 391.001(3) and (8) and 391.099(a)(2), |
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Transportation Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3441 was passed by the House on May |
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10, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 3441 on May 25, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3441 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |