By Moreno of El Paso                                   H.B. No. 994
         76R3843 DWS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to an offense of using a telephone while operating a motor
 1-3     vehicle.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 545.424 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 545.424.  USE OF TELEPHONE.  An operator may not use a
 1-8     telephone while operating a motor vehicle unless:
 1-9                 (1)  the vehicle is stopped; or
1-10                 (2)  the telephone is used without use of either of the
1-11     operator's hands.
1-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-13           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.