BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3045

By: Bonnen

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

On May 8, 2022, former Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark died. Mr. Clark was one of Galveston County's longest serving elected officials; he had represented Precinct 4 on the county commissioners court since 1998. Mr. Clark began his career as a board member on Municipal Utility District No. 6 and then became an aide to former U.S. Representative Steve Stockman. In 1996, he was elected as a committeeman to the State Republican Executive Committee. He owned a desktop publishing and advertising company before being elected to office. Mr. Clark recently served as the chairman of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's Transportation Policy Council, which helps direct millions of dollars of grant funding to mobility projects around the Greater Houston area. Mr. Clark was married to his wife Sherry for 34 years and he and his family raised horses and livestock. After Mr. Clark's death, Governor Greg Abbott ordered flags across Texas to be flown at half-staff in honor of Mr. Clark's life and public service. H.B. 3045 seeks to honor and recognize the life and service of Ken Clark by designating the bridge crossing Galveston Bay that connects Galveston Island to Pelican Island in Galveston County as the Ken Clark Memorial Bridge.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3045 amends the Transportation Code to designate the bridge crossing Galveston Bay that connects Galveston Island to Pelican Island in Galveston County as the Ken Clark Memorial Bridge. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation, subject to a grant or donation of funds, to do the following:

·         design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Ken Clark Memorial Bridge and any other appropriate information; and

·         erect a marker at each end of the bridge.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.