By Roman                                        H.B. No. 2381

      75R8427 T                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to speed limits on highways near institutions of higher

 1-3     education.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 545.357, Transportation Code, is amended

 1-6     to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 545.357.  Public Hearing to Consider Speed Limits Where

 1-8     Certain Schools Are Located.  (a)  The governing body of a

 1-9     municipality in which a public or private elementary or secondary

1-10     school or an institution of higher education as defined by section

1-11     61.003, Education Code is located shall on request hold a public

1-12     hearing at least once each calendar year to consider prima facie

1-13     speed limits on a highway in the municipality, including a highway

1-14     of the state highway system, near the school or institution of

1-15     higher education.

1-16           (b)  If a county road outside the state highway system is

1-17     located within 500 feet of a public or private elementary or

1-18     secondary school or an institution of higher education that is not

1-19     in a municipality, the commissioners court of the county on request

1-20     shall hold a public hearing at least once each calendar year to

1-21     consider the prima facie speed limit on the road near the school or

1-22     institution of higher education.

1-23           (c)  A municipal governing body or commissioners court on

1-24     request may hold one public hearing for all public and private

 2-1     elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher

 2-2     education in its jurisdiction.

 2-3           (d)  The Texas Transportation Commission, on request, shall

 2-4     hold a public hearing at least once each calendar year to consider

 2-5     prima facie speed limits on highways in the state highway system

 2-6     that are near public or private elementary or secondary schools or

 2-7     institutions of higher education.

 2-8           SECTION 2.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation

 2-9     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-10     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-11     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-12     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.