1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to exempting certain persons from the safety belt law.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 545.413(e), Transportation Code, is
 1-5     amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (e)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:
 1-7                 (1)  the person possesses a written statement from a
 1-8     licensed physician stating that for a medical reason the person
 1-9     should not wear a safety belt;
1-10                 (2)  the person presents to the court, not later than
1-11     the 10th day after the date of the offense, a statement from a
1-12     licensed physician stating that for a medical reason the person
1-13     should not wear a safety belt;
1-14                 (3)  the person is employed by the United States Postal
1-15     Service and performing a duty for that agency that requires the
1-16     operator to service postal boxes from a vehicle or that requires
1-17     frequent entry into and exit from a vehicle;  [or]
1-18                 (4)  the person is engaged in the actual delivery of
1-19     newspapers from a vehicle or is performing newspaper delivery
1-20     duties that require frequent entry into and exit from a vehicle; or
1-21                 (5)  the person is employed by a public or private
1-22     utility company and is engaged in the reading of meters or
1-23     performing a similar duty for that company requiring the operator
1-24     to frequently enter into and exit from a vehicle.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
 2-2     applies only to an offense committed on or after that date.
 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-7     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. 856 was passed by the House on April
         8, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 856 was passed by the Senate on May
         17, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor