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This week's column is the fourth in a series of columns discussing selected interim charges for committees of the Texas House of Representatives. Committees will soon start meeting and discussing their interim studies in order to make recommendations for legislation during the next regular legislative session.
The House Committee on State Cultural and Recreational Resources has been given a number of charges that are especially pertinent to our area due to assets such as Lake Texoma, the Sam Rayburn House and Library, several Main Street Cities and a number of other resources. The committee's charges include:
• Actively study the rules, regulations and statutes which govern Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the department's responsibilities.
• Review, for the purpose of safety, the discharges of fire arms for hunting and recreational shooting in our state-owned river beds.
• Review the missions and goals of the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and consider possible consolidation.
• Research heritage, cultural, recreational and historical tourism programs the state is involved in and explore new ways to promote and improve tourism in the state.
• Research the regulation and control of scenic by-ways and billboards.
The House Committee on Transportation, after working on and passing what has been referred to as the most comprehensive transportation legislation in the state's history last session, will soon begin meeting to discuss the following interim charges:
• Review transportation best practices in other states to determine possible improvements in administration, operations, delivery of projects, and improving overall efficiency of the Department of Transportation.
• Review and study all existing legislation affecting the development of transportation infrastructure in areas adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border.
• Actively monitor and review Texas Department of Transportation's rulemaking, promulgation of policies and procedures, implementation of programs, and other activities related to the implementation of HB 3588 from the 78th Legislature.
• Actively monitor agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction, including identifying possible ways to merge or streamline agency functions to produce long term financial benefit to the State and better efficiency of the agencies.
You can view a complete list of the charges for these and all other committees at www.house.state.tx.us.