BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1545 By: Swinford 04-19-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND In the past, the time of legal travel was not clear for agricultural trailers carrying more than one trailer. Current law, (Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6701d, Section 106) calls for the vehicles to be operated only during the period from sunrise to sunset. The exact meaning of this, however, was not entirely clear to all involved. The hours of operation needed to become more specific. PURPOSE H.B. 1545 amends Subsection (a), Section 106, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by changing the time of vehicle operation from "the period of sunrise to sunset" to "daytime". This will clarify the proper time of operation to farmers and law enforcement officials. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1: Amends Subsection (a), Section 106, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by changing the time of legal travel from sunrise to sunset to daytime. SECTION 2: Amends Section 2, Chapter 73, Acts of the 54th Legislature, Regular Session, 1955 (Article 6701d-13, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by stating that such vehicles may be operated only during daytime, as defined by Section 20A, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) SECTION 3: Amends Section 2, Chapter 8, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971 (Article 6701d-17, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by stating that such vehicles may be operated only during daytime, as defined by Section 20A, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) and that there shall be a red flag or cloth displayed at the extreme rear end of the vehicle. SECTION 4: Provides for which law is applicable before the effective date of this Act. SECTION 5: Effective Date of September 1, 1995. SECTION 6: Emergency Clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The Committee Substitute to H.B. 1545 adds new sections 2 and 3 to the bill stating that such vehicles may be operated only during daytime as defined by Section 20A, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to a public notice posted on April 7, 1995 at 5:04 p.m., the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on Wednesday, April 12, 1995, at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment, in Room E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at 3:58 p.m. by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander. The Chair laid out H.B. 1545 and recognized Representative Swinford to explain H.B. 1545. Representative Bosse laid out the Committee Substitute to H.B. 1545 and without objection the Substitute was adopted. The Chair recognized the following persons who testified in support of H.B. 1545. Ben Borner, Texas Grain and Feed Association. Ron Hufford, Texas Forestry Association. Representative Bosse moved to withdraw the Committee substitute to H.B. 1545 and without objection, the Committee Substitute to H.B. 1545 was withdrawn. The Chair left H.B. 1545 pending before the Committee. Pursuant to a public notice posed on April 13, 1995 at 4:14 p.m., the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on Wednesday, April 19, 1995 at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment, in Room E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at 2:16 p.m. by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander. The Chair laid out H.B. 1545 by Swinford, which was pending before the Committee. Representative Edwards laid out the Committee Substitute to H.B. 1545, and without objection, the substitute was adopted. Representative Edwards moved that the Committee report H.B. 1545, as substituted, to the full House with the recommendation that it do pass. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes (7), Nayes (0), Absent (2), Present not voting (0).