By Lewis of Orange H.B. No. 856
76R1758 WP-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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.