BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 321 By: Rabuck 03-29-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Current law limits school buses to 50 mph even on interstate highways. The normal flow of traffic is dangerous for those trying to maintain 50 mph. Several school bus drivers and transportation personnel suggest that 55 mph on interstate highways would significantly increase safety for all concerned. PURPOSE This bill amends section 166(a), Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) to increase the current speed limit for buses from 50 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour on interstate highways. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Existing speed limits on various roads for various vehicles. Paragraph 5-"c" is amended from current 50 mph to 55 mph on an interstate highway, as defined by Section 144 of this Act, and fifty (50) miles per hour for any school bus on another highway. SECTION 2. Offense only after Act takes effect. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 4. Emergency legislation. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The introduced version of H.B. 321 would increase the speed limit for school buses from 50 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour. C.S.H.B. would increase the speed limit for school buses from 50 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour only on interstate highways, and 50 miles per hour for any school bus on any other highway. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to a public notice posted on March 16, 1995, at 5:53 p.m., the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on Wednesday, March 22, 1995 at 2:00 p.m. in Room E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at 6:54 p.m. after the rules were suspended on the House floor to meet in public hearing after the posted time, by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander. The Chair laid out H.B. 321 and recognized Representative Rabuck to explain H.B. 321. There were no witnesses in support of, or in opposition to H.B. 321. The Chair left H.B. 321 pending before the Committee. Pursuant to a public notice posted on March 23, 1995, at 7:36 p.m., the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on Wednesday, March 29, 1995 at 2:00 p.m. in Room E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at 2:10 p.m. by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander. The Chair laid out H.B. 321 by Rabuck which was pending before the Committee. Representative Bosse laid out the Committee substitute and without objection the substitute was adopted. Representative Bosse moved that the Committee report H.B. 321, as substituted, to the full House with the recommendation that it do pass. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes (6), Nayes (0), Absent (3), Present not voting (0).