BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 1089
By: Whitmire (Bosse)
05-18-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

On several occasions, Houston police officers on horseback have
been injured as a result of being thrown from their horse.  In many
of these cases, the horse was spooked when a vehicle approached
from the rear.  Despite these risks, the officers are required to
ride the horses with traffic.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1089 sets forth traffic laws that are not
applicable to peace officers on horseback.

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 25, Article 6701d, V.T.C.S. (Uniform Act
Regulating Traffic on Highways), as follows:

     Sec. 25.  TRAFFIC LAWS APPLY TO PERSONS RIDING ANIMALS OR
     DRIVING ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLES.   (a) Makes conforming changes.
     
     (b) Authorizes a peace officer who is riding a horse in the
       actual discharge of the officer's official duties to
       disregard regulations governing direction of movement or
       turning in specified directions, cross certain roadways,
       ride or stop the horse on a sidewalk, and proceed past a red
       or stop signal or stop sign when responding to an emergency
       call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator,
       but only after slowing the horse as may be necessary.
       
       (c) Provides that a peace officer who is riding a horse and
       is engaged in conduct described by Subsection (b) has the
       same duty and potential liability as the operator of an
       authorized emergency vehicle under Section 24(e).
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Pursuant to a public notice announced from the House Floor on May
18, 1995, in accordance with House Rules, the House Committee on
Transportation met in a formal meeting on the House Floor, at Desk
22, on Thursday, May 18, 1995, and was called to order by the
Chairman, Representative Clyde Alexander at 12:40 p.m.  The Chair
laid out S.B. 1089 by Whitmire.  Representative Price moved that
the Committee report S.B. 1089, without amendments, 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).