By Tillery H.B. No. 116 75R1314 MCK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to access of certain vehicles to high occupancy vehicle 1-3 lanes. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 541.302, Transportation Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Subdivision (17) to read as follows: 1-7 (17) "High occupancy vehicle lane" means a roadway 1-8 lane that may be used only by a vehicle containing a minimum number 1-9 of occupants. 1-10 SECTION 2. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, 1-11 is amended by adding Section 545.424 to read as follows: 1-12 Sec. 545.424. ACCESS TO HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE. A 1-13 person operating a vehicle with license plates issued under Section 1-14 502.253 may drive in a high occupancy vehicle lane notwithstanding 1-15 the minimum occupant requirement. 1-16 SECTION 3. Chapter 544, Transportation Code, is amended by 1-17 adding Section 544.011 to read as follows: 1-18 Sec. 544.011. SIGNS FOR HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE. The 1-19 authority responsible for maintaining a high occupancy vehicle lane 1-20 shall maintain signs identifying all vehicles that are permitted to 1-21 drive in the high occupancy vehicle lane. 1-22 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-23 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 1-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.