By Hawley H.B. No. 932
76R757 DWS-D
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, truck, or light truck
1-7 may not draw a trailer, semitrailer, [or] house trailer, or another
1-8 motor vehicle unless safety chains of a type approved by the
1-9 department are attached in a manner approved by the department from
1-10 the trailer, semitrailer, [or] house trailer, or drawn motor
1-11 vehicle to the drawing vehicle. This subsection does not apply to
1-12 the 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.