BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1617
By: Oakley
03-22-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Many states have laws which regulate automobiles with televisions
that receive television broadcasts.  Current law (Vernon's Texas
Civil Statutes, Article 6701(d), Section 139D) prohibits
television-type receiving equipment in vehicles located so that the
screen is visible to the driver.  Vehicle navigational devices are
small monitors of about seven inches in diameter that display maps
of towns and cities to drivers of automobiles.  They display
information that is either stored on compact discs or received
through satellite feeds.  These navigational monitors will help
guide recreational and commercial drivers traveling throughout the
state. It is vital that these screens are located where they are
easily visible to the driver.  

PURPOSE

This bill allows the use of monitoring devices that produce an
electronic display used exclusively in conjunction with a mobile
navigation system to be placed within the driver's line of sight.

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 V.T.C.S., Article 6701d Section 139D by adding
Subsection (d) allowing the use of a monitoring device that
produces an electronic display and is used exclusively in
conjunction with a mobile navigation system installed in the
vehicle.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Pursuant to a public notice posted on March 9, 1995, at 6:16 p.m.,
the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on
Wednesday March 15, 1995, at 2:00 p.m. in Room E1.014 of the
Capitol Extension and was called to order at 2:20 p.m. by the
Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander to consider H.B. 1617.  The
Chair recognized the following person who testified in support of
H.B. 1617: Dan Hinkle, Electronics Industries Association.  No
persons testified in opposition to, or neutrally on H.B. 1617.  The
Chair left H.B. 1617 pending before the Committee.  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. 1617.  Representative Alonzo moved that the Committee report
H.B. 1617 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).