2005 Texas Transportation Code CHAPTER 204. TRAVEL INFORMATION

TRANSPORTATION CODE

CHAPTER 204. TRAVEL INFORMATION


	§ 204.001. INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC;  MAPS.  (a) To provide 
information relating to highway construction, repair, and 
maintenance and to advertise and attract traffic to the highways of 
this state, the department may prepare and publish for 
distribution, in the manner and form the department considers best, 
documents the department considers necessary and expedient to 
publicize and provide information concerning:
		(1)  the highways of this state;                                              
		(2)  public parks, recreational areas, scenic areas, 
and other public places and objects of interest;
		(3)  distances;                                                               
		(4)  historical facts;  and                                                   
		(5)  other matters of interest and value to the public 
and highway users.   
	(b)  The department periodically may prepare a map showing:                    
		(1)  the highways of this state;  and                                         
		(2)  municipalities and other places of interest served 
by those highways.  
	(c)  The department may distribute the documents and maps in 
the manner and to the extent the department considers will best 
serve the motoring public and highway users.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.002. CHARGE FOR MATERIALS.  (a) The department 
shall provide a single copy of a document or map distributed under 
Section 204.001 without charge.
	(b)  The department by rule may:                                               
		(1)  require payment for large quantities of the 
material;  and             
		(2)  authorize distribution without charge of multiple 
copies of the material if the distribution will maximize the 
department's resources available to advertise the highways of this 
state and promote travel to and within this state.
	(c)  Payment required under Subsection (b)(1) must be in an 
amount sufficient to recover the department's direct and indirect 
production costs.  Money received by the department under this 
section shall be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund 
and used by the department to produce travel material.  Section 
403.095, Government Code, does not apply to money deposited under 
this subsection.
	(d)  If this section conflicts with a license agreement 
entered into under Section 201.205, the license agreement prevails 
to the extent of that conflict.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.003. TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTERS.  The department 
shall maintain and operate travel information centers at the 
principal gateways to this state to provide highway information, 
travel guidance, and descriptive material designed to assist the 
traveling public and stimulate travel to and within this state.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.004. PAYMENT OF COSTS.  The department may pay from 
highway revenues the cost, including the administration and 
operation cost, of:
		(1)  developing, publishing, and distributing 
material;  and                
		(2)  maintaining and operating travel information 
centers.                  

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.005. PURCHASE OF BROADCASTING AND PERIODICAL 
ADVERTISING.  The department may purchase advertising space in a 
periodical of national circulation and time on a broadcasting 
facility from money appropriated from the general revenue fund and 
administered by the department for that specific purpose.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.006. CONTRACTS FOR ADVERTISING, MOVIES, AND 
PHOTOGRAPHS.  (a)  The department may enter into a contract with:
		(1)  a recognized and financially responsible 
advertising agency that has at least five years' experience 
handling similar accounts for the contracting of space in 
newspapers and periodicals for the publication of advertising 
information, historical facts, statistics, and pictures that will 
be useful and informative to persons outside this state;  and
		(2)  motion picture producers and other persons for 
making movies or taking photographs in this state and for the 
showing of those movies and photographs.
	(b)  The department may join with another agency of this 
state in publishing informational publicity material under this 
section.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.007. PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.  (a) The department may 
accept a contribution from a private source for a purpose under 
Sections 204.001-204.006.
	(b)  The department may deposit the contribution in one or 
more banks and use the contribution at its discretion according to 
the contributor's wishes.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.008. PRODUCTION, MARKETING, AND DISTRIBUTION 
CONTRACTS.  (a) The department may contract with a private entity 
to produce, market, and distribute material published under 
Sections 204.001-204.006 on the terms, including terms providing 
cost savings, the department considers beneficial to this state.
	(b)  A contract may:                                                           
		(1)  include cooperative strategies the department 
considers to provide cost benefits;  and
		(2)  provide for acceptance of paid advertising in the 
material if the quality and quantity of the material are 
maintained.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.009. SALE OF PROMOTIONAL ITEMS.  (a) The department 
may sell promotional items such as calendars, books, prints, caps, 
light clothing, or other items approved by the commission that 
advertise the resources of this state.
	(b)  All proceeds from the sale of the items shall be 
deposited to the credit of the state highway fund for the 
department's use in its travel and information operations.
	(c)  Section 403.095, Government Code, does not apply to 
money deposited under this section.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.010. TRAVEL MAGAZINE.  (a) The department shall 
publish the official travel magazine of this state, "Texas 
Highways."
	(b)  The department shall set subscription rates and other 
charges for the magazine at a level that generates receipts 
approximately sufficient to cover the cost of producing and 
distributing the magazine.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 204.011. SUBSCRIBER OR PURCHASER INFORMATION.  (a) 
Except as provided by this section or a rule adopted by the 
commission under this section, the department may not disclose to 
any person the name, address, telephone number, social security 
account number, driver's license number, bank account number, 
credit or debit card number, or charge account number of a person 
who:
		(1)  is or has been a subscriber to "Texas Highways";  
or                   
		(2)  has purchased from the department a promotional 
item described by Section 204.009.
	(b)  Chapter 552, Government Code, does not apply to 
subscriber or purchaser information described by Subsection (a).
	(c)  The commission by rule shall establish policies 
relating to:            
		(1)  the release of subscriber or purchaser 
information;                    
		(2)  the use by the department of subscriber and 
purchaser information;  and
		(3)  the sale of a mailing list containing the names and 
addresses of subscribers or purchasers.
	(d)  The policies must:                                                        
		(1)  include a method by which a subscriber or 
purchaser may require the department to exclude information about 
the person from a mailing list that is sold;  and
		(2)  provide that subscriber or purchaser information 
be disclosed to an agency of this state or the United States only if 
that agency certifies that the information is necessary for the 
performance of that agency's duties.
	(e)  The department is immune from civil or criminal 
liability if the department unintentionally violates this section 
or a rule adopted under this section.
	(f)  In this section, a reference to the department includes 
an officer, employee, or agent of the department.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 16.001(a), eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.