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).