By Driver, et al.                                      H.B. No. 297

         75R8999 DWS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certain signs controlling use of traffic lanes.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 544, Transportation Code, is amended by

 1-5     adding Section 544.011 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 544.011.  LANE USE SIGNS.  If, on a highway having more

 1-7     than one lane with vehicles traveling in the same direction, the

 1-8     department or a local authority places a sign that directs slower

 1-9     traffic to travel in a lane other than the farthest left lane, the

1-10     sign must read "left lane for passing only."

1-11           SECTION 2.  (a)  Before January 1, 1998, the Texas

1-12     Transportation Commission shall amend the sign manual adopted under

1-13     Section 544.001, Transportation Code, to comply with Section

1-14     544.011, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

1-15           (b)  This Act does not require the Texas Department of

1-16     Transportation or a local authority to replace or repaint a sign.

1-17     Section 544.011, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, applies

1-18     only to a sign originally placed on a highway on or after the

1-19     effective date of this Act or replaced or repainted on or after the

1-20     effective date of this Act for a reason other than compliance with

1-21     Section 544.011,  Transportation Code.

1-22           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-23           SECTION 4.  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.