76R9194 DWS-D                           
         By Hawley                                              H.B. No. 932
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 932:
         By Siebert                                         C.S.H.B. No. 932
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the use of towing safety chains.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Sections 545.410(a), (b), and (d), Transportation
 1-5     Code, are amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  An operator of a passenger car or light truck may not
 1-7     draw a trailer, semitrailer, [or] house trailer, or another motor
 1-8     vehicle unless safety chains of a type approved by the department
 1-9     are attached in a manner approved by the department from the
1-10     trailer,  semitrailer, [or] house trailer, or drawn motor vehicle
1-11     to the drawing vehicle.  This subsection does not apply to the
1-12     drawing of a trailer or semitrailer used  for agricultural
1-13     purposes.
1-14           (b)  The department shall adopt rules prescribing the type of
1-15     safety chains required to be used according to the weight of the
1-16     trailer, semitrailer, [or] house trailer, or motor vehicle being
1-17     drawn.  The rules shall:
1-18                 (1)  require safety chains to be strong enough to
1-19     maintain the connection between the trailer, semitrailer, [or]
1-20     house trailer, or drawn motor vehicle and the drawing vehicle; and
1-21                 (2)  show the proper method to attach safety chains
1-22     between the trailer, semitrailer, [or] house trailer, or drawn
1-23     motor vehicle and the drawing vehicle.
1-24           (d)  This section does not apply to a trailer, semitrailer,
 2-1     [or] house trailer, or drawn motor vehicle that is operated in
 2-2     compliance with  the federal motor carrier safety regulations.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-4           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.