HBA-LCA, PDH H.B. 1147 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1147 By: Seaman Transportation 3/27/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a vehicle with an extended load is required to display a red flag, cloth or strobe light during daylight hours. There are certain times, including early morning, early evening, or times of inclement weather, when a red flag or cloth fails to provide adequate notice to approaching vehicles. H.B. 1147 mandates that a vehicle with an extended load display red lights and reflectors in specific locations on the extreme end of a load. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the section heading to Section 622.052, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 622.052. New title: TIME OF OPERATION; SPEED; LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS. Deletes "Display of Flag or Cloth" from the existing title. SECTION 2. Amends Section 622.052(b), Transportation Code, to require a vehicle with an extended load to display red lights and reflectors in specific locations on the extreme end of a load to make the load visible to approaching traffic, rather than placing a red flag, or cloth that is visible to a driver of an approaching vehicle. SECTION 3. Amends the section heading to Section 622.062, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 622.062. New title: TIME OF OPERATION; LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS. Deletes "Display of Flag or Cloth" from the existing title. SECTION 4. Amends Section 622.062(b), Transportation Code, to make a conforming change. Deletes text requiring that a strobe light, red flag, or cloth be placed on the rear of the vehicle to make a load visible to approaching vehicles. SECTION 5.Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6.Emergency clause.