1-1 By: Driver, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Galloway) H.B. No. 297 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 16, 1997; 1-3 May 16, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on State 1-4 Affairs; May 18, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 12, Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to certain signs controlling use of traffic lanes. 1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-10 SECTION 1. Chapter 544, Transportation Code, is amended by 1-11 adding Section 544.011 to read as follows: 1-12 Sec. 544.011. LANE USE SIGNS. If, on a highway having more 1-13 than one lane with vehicles traveling in the same direction, the 1-14 department or a local authority places a sign that directs slower 1-15 traffic to travel in a lane other than the farthest left lane, the 1-16 sign must read "left lane for passing only." 1-17 SECTION 2. (a) Before January 1, 1998, the Texas 1-18 Transportation Commission shall amend the sign manual adopted under 1-19 Section 544.001, Transportation Code, to comply with Section 1-20 544.011, Transportation Code, as added by this Act. 1-21 (b) This Act does not require the Texas Department of 1-22 Transportation or a local authority to replace or repaint a sign. 1-23 Section 544.011, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, applies 1-24 only to a sign originally placed on a highway on or after the 1-25 effective date of this Act or replaced or repainted on or after the 1-26 effective date of this Act for a reason other than compliance with 1-27 Section 544.011, Transportation Code. 1-28 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-29 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-30 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-31 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-32 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-33 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-34 * * * * *