BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1512 By: Cain (Seidlits) 05-02-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Current law requires the driver of any vehicle approaching a highway-railroad grade crossing to stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail and not to proceed until he or she can do so safely, as specified. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1512 implements an automated highway-railroad grade crossing enforcement system demonstration project. 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. DEFINITIONS. Defines "automated highway-railroad grade crossing enforcement system," "automatic gate," "department," "grade crossing," and "public highway." SECTION 2. INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATED HIGHWAY-RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to install and operate an automated highway-railroad grade crossing enforcement system in conjunction with no more than 10 automatic gates in this state. (b) Requires the designated automatic gates to be selected by a committee that consists of one representative chosen by each of certain state agencies and one chosen by railroad companies operating in this state. (c) Requires the department to pay costs associated with the demonstration project required by this Act from money appropriated to the department for the installation and maintenance of automatic gates on public highways in this state. SECTION 3. TERM OF PROJECT. Requires the department to conclude the demonstration project required by this Act on August 31, 1997. SECTION 4. REPORT. (a) Requires the committee described by Section 2(b) of this Act, following the conclusion of the demonstration project, to prepare a comprehensive report on the results of the project and make recommendations regarding the continued use of automated highway-railroad grade crossing enforcement systems in this state. (b) Requires the committee to deliver the report to the governor, the legislature, and the director of the Legislative Budget Board, before January 1, 1998. SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 6. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to a public notice announced from the House floor on May 2, 1995, in accordance with House Rules, the House Committee on Transportation met in a formal meeting on the House Floor, at Desk 22, on Tuesday, May 2, 1995, and was called to order by the Chairman, Representative Clyde Alexander at 12:00 p.m. The Chair laid out S.B. 1512, which is the companion document to H.B. 2974. Representative Alexander moved to report S.B. 1512, 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).