1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the operation of golf carts on a public road or

 1-3     highway.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 502.284, Transportation Code, is amended

 1-6     to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 502.284.  GOLF CARTS.  An owner of a golf cart driven to

 1-8     and from a golf course is not required to register the golf cart

 1-9     if:

1-10                 (1)  the operation of the golf cart occurs in the

1-11     daytime, as defined by Section 541.401; and

1-12                 (2)  the operation:

1-13                       (A)  does not exceed a distance of two miles from

1-14     the point of origin to the destination; or

1-15                       (B)  occurs entirely within a master planned

1-16     community with a uniform set of restrictive covenants that has had

1-17     a plat approved by a county or a municipality.

1-18           SECTION 2.  Section 547.002, Transportation Code, is amended

1-19     to read as follows:

1-20           Sec. 547.002.  APPLICABILITY.  Unless a provision is

1-21     specifically made applicable, this chapter and the rules of the

1-22     department adopted under this chapter do not apply to:

1-23                 (1)  an implement of husbandry;

1-24                 (2)  road machinery;

 2-1                 (3)  a road roller;

 2-2                 (4)  a farm tractor; [or]

 2-3                 (5)  a bicycle, a bicyclist, or bicycle equipment; or

 2-4                 (6)  a golf cart not required to be registered under

 2-5     Section 502.284.

 2-6           SECTION 3.  Section 601.052(a), Transportation Code, is

 2-7     amended to read as follows:

 2-8           (a)  Section 601.051 does not apply to:

 2-9                 (1)  the operation of a motor vehicle that:

2-10                       (A)  is a former military vehicle or is at least

2-11     25 years old;

2-12                       (B)  is used only for exhibitions, club

2-13     activities, parades, and other functions of public interest and not

2-14     for regular transportation; and

2-15                       (C)  for which the owner files with the

2-16     department an affidavit, signed by the owner, stating that the

2-17     vehicle is a collector's item and used only as described by

2-18     Paragraph (B);

2-19                 (2)  the operation of a golf cart not required to be

2-20     registered under Section 502.284; or

2-21                 (3)  a volunteer fire department for the operation of a

2-22     motor vehicle the title of which is held in the name of a volunteer

2-23     fire department.

2-24           SECTION 4.  In addition to the substantive changes made by

2-25     this Act, this Act conforms Section 601.052(a), Transportation

2-26     Code, to Section 4, Chapter 443, Acts of the 74th Legislature,

2-27     Regular Session, 1995.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act

 3-1     prevails over another Act of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,

 3-2     1997, relating to nonsubstantive additions and amendments to

 3-3     enacted codes.

 3-4           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 3-5           SECTION 6.  The importance of this legislation and the

 3-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 3-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 3-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2733 was passed by the House on May

         13, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2733 was passed by the Senate on May

         26, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor