By Corte                                        H.B. No. 3406

      75R2836 DWS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to railroad bridges, crossings, and rights-of-way.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 6, Title 112, Revised Statutes, is

 1-5     amended by adding Article 6340A to read as follows:

 1-6           Art. 6340A.  REGULATION OF BRIDGES, CROSSINGS, AND

 1-7     RIGHTS-OF-WAY.  The Railroad Commission of Texas by rule shall

 1-8     require each railroad company to:

 1-9                 (1)  construct or reconstruct, as necessary, and

1-10     maintain each bridge over which the company's road crosses a stream

1-11     of water so that the bridge will not increase flooding of

1-12     surrounding areas during times of flood conditions;

1-13                 (2)  properly maintain all crossings of public roads;

1-14     and

1-15                 (3)  maintain all of the company's rights-of-way in a

1-16     manner that protects the environment, particularly against the

1-17     spread of plant disease.

1-18           SECTION 2.  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.