SRC-JXG S.B. 844 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 844 76R4469 DRH-DBy: Carona Intergovernmental Relations 3/22/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law allows cities with a population in excess of 100,000 to enforce weight standards on motor vehicles inside city limits. However, there are numerous cities with populations less than 100,000, which have high volumes of motor vehicles on the roadways. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is unable to effectively provide enforcement for these areas. S.B. 844 would authorize cities with populations of 50,000 or more to enforce weight and safety standards for motor vehicles inside city limits. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 844 authorizes cities with a population of 50,000 or more to enforce weight standards on motor vehicles in the city limits. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 621.401, Transportation Code, to redefine "weight enforcement officer." Deletes text regarding Section 6, Article 6675d, Revised Statutes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 621.408, Transportation Code, to provide that except for the authority granted to a port-of-entry supervisor or inspector by Section 621.409, weight enforcement officers have exclusive authority to enforce this subchapter in any area of this state other than in the territory of a municipality with a population of more than 50,000, rather than 100,000. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.