SRC-SLL H.B. 130 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 130
By: Pitts (Cain)
Intergovernmental Relations
5-15-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Texas law requires that a road maintained by a county have an engineering
and traffic investigation conducted before a speed limit can be changed.
Many county-maintained roads never have an engineering and traffic
investigation.  If there has not been an engineering and traffic
investigation conducted, the legal speed limit falls under Section
545.352(b), Transportation Code.  As a result, most county roads have
legal speed limits in excess of 50 mph.  This bill will provide
regulations regarding the authority of the commissioners court of a county
to alter speed limits on county roads. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 130 provides regulations regarding the authority of the
commissioners court of a county to alter speed limits on county roads. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.355(a), Transportation Code, to authorize
the commissioners court of a county to increase, rather than alter, prima
facie speed limits on certain roads under certain conditions and to
declare a lower speed limit on certain roads, if the commissioners court
determines that the prima facie speed limit on the road or highway is
unreasonable or unsafe. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.