BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 835 By: Craddick (Sibley) State Affairs 05-24-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND In January, 1974, the federal government instituted a nationwide 55 miles per hour speed limit as an energy conservation measure. In 1987, the limit was raised to 65 mph on rural interstate and highways built to interstate-stem standards. Texas' statutory speed limits still exceed federal limits. Article 6701d, Section 169B, V.T.C.S., authorizes the State Highway and Public Transportation Commission to set speed limits that prevail over those in statute, in order to maintain federal funding. A commission change requires a proclamation by the governor, and is effective for only 120 days, unless the commission finds that federal requirements still take precedence. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 835 provides that a violation of a federally imposed speed limit which does not exceed the state speed limit may not be reported to a person or state agency by the Department of Public Safety. 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. Amends Article XIX, Article 6701d, V.T.C.S., by adding Section 169C, as follows: Sec. 169C. FUEL CONSERVATION SPEED LIMIT. Provides that if a person violates a maximum prima facie speed limit imposed under Section 169B of this Act and the person was not traveling at a speed, as alleged in the citation if not contested by the person or as alleged in the complaint and found by the court, that is greater than the maximum prima facie speed limit for the location that has been established under this Act, other than Section 169B, information in the custody of the Department of Public Safety (department) concerning the violation is confidential. Prohibits the department from releasing the information to any person or to another state government entity. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.