Amend Senate Bill 19, 78th Legislature, First Called Session, by inserting a new ARTICLE __ to read as follows:

ARTICLE __. TEXAS BICYCLE TOURISM TRAILS
SECTION __.01. Section 201.092, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Section 201.902. Road Use by Bicyclists
(a) The department shall designate:

(1) a statewide bicycle coordinator; and
(2) a bicycle coordinator in each regional office.

(b) A bicycle coordinator shall assist the department in developing rules and plans to enhance the use of the state highway system by bicyclists.

(c) The commission shall adopt rules relating to use of roads in the state highway system by bicyclists, including provisions for:

(1) the specific duties of the statewide bicycle coordinator and the regional bicycle coordinators;

(2) obtaining comments from bicyclists on:

(A) a highway project that might affect bicycle use;
(B) the use of a highway for bicycling events; and
(C) department policies affecting bicycle use of state highways;

(3) the consideration of acceptable national bicycle design, construction, and maintenance standards on a project in an area with significant bicycle use; and

(4) any other matter the commission determines necessary to enhance the use of the state highway system by bicyclists.

(d) The statewide bicycle coordinator, with the regional bicycle coordinators and an advisory committee established in the department, shall advise the commission on the development of bicycle tourism trails. The coordinator shall develop recommendations:

(1) in consultation with the parks and wildlife department and the Texas economic development and tourism office within the office of the governor;

(2) that reflect the geographic, scenic, historic and cultural diversity of the state; and

(3) that maximize federal and private sources of funding for the constructions of such trails and the development of a bicycle tourism industry.

(e) A rule adopted under this section may not be inconsistent with Chapter 551.

(f) In its annual report, the department shall report on the activities of the statewide bicycle coordinator and specifically on the bicycle tourism trails program.

SECTION __.02. The Department of Transportation shall include the report on the activities of the statewide bicycle coordinator and the bicycle tourism trails program required by this article beginning with its annual report for calendar year 2004.

SECTION __.03. The article takes effect September 1, 2003, if this Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary to take effect on that date, this article takes effect November 1, 2003.