By Driver                                        H.B. No. 297

      75R1906 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 Department of

1-12     Public Safety shall amend its sign manual adopted under Section

1-13     544.001, Transportation Code, to comply with Section 544.011,

1-14     Transportation Code, as adopted by this Act.

1-15           (b)  The department or a local authority that places a sign

1-16     to which Section 544.011, Transportation Code, applies is not

1-17     required to comply with that section before September 1, 1998.

1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-23     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-24     passage, and it is so enacted.