BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3208 By: Brimer (Harris) State Affairs 5-25-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Current law does not adequately define which vehicles are required to use safety chains. The 73rd Legislature passed H.B. 167 to fix an irregularity, which made Texas one of 18 states that does not have some type of law regulating the use of safety chains on vehicles. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 3208 requires safety chains for certain vehicles towing a trailer, semitrailer, or house trailer on a public highway. 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 Section 106A(b)-(f), Article 6701d, V.T.C.S. (Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways), as follows: (b) Prohibits a person from operating a passenger car or light truck while towing a semitrailer or other house trailer on a public highway unless Texas Department of Transportation approved-safety chains are attached from the trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer to the towing vehicle. (c) - (f) Make conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.