1-1     By:  Madla                                             S.B. No. 977

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 6, 1997; March 10, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;

 1-4     April 2, 1997, reported favorably, as amended, by the following

 1-5     vote:  Yeas 12, Nays 0; April 2, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6     COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1                                 By:  Luna

 1-7     Amend S.B. No. 977 in SECTION 1 of the bill, proposed Section

 1-8     621.2061 (4), Transportation Code, after the word "regulation"

 1-9     (page 1, line 30, Introduced version) by striking "in 49 C.F.R.

1-10     393.86".

1-11                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

1-12                                   AN ACT

1-13     relating to the maximum extended length of certain loads carried on

1-14     trailers.

1-15           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-16           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 621, Transportation Code,

1-17     is amended by adding Section 621.2061 to read as follows:

1-18           Sec. 621.2061.  EXCEPTION TO MAXIMUM EXTENDED LENGTH OF

1-19     LOAD:  CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES.  Notwithstanding Section 621.206, a

1-20     trailer may carry a load that extends more than four feet beyond

1-21     the rear of the trailer if the load consists of a motor vehicle

1-22     that:

1-23                 (1)  is designed and intended to be carried at the rear

1-24     of the trailer;

1-25                 (2)  is used or intended to be used to load or unload a

1-26     commodity on or off the trailer;

1-27                 (3)  does not extend more than seven feet beyond the

1-28     rear of the trailer; and

1-29                 (4)  complies with each applicable federal motor

1-30     carrier safety regulation in 49 C.F.R. 393.86.

1-31           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-32           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-33     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-34     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-35     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-36     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

1-37                                  * * * * *