1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to gates on certain third-class and neighborhood roads.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.   Section 251.010(a), Transportation Code, is
 1-5     amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  A person, including a neighborhood association, who owns
 1-7     or controls real property on which a third-class road or a
 1-8     neighborhood road established under Section 251.053 is located for
 1-9     which the right-of-way was obtained without cost to the county may
1-10     erect a gate across the road when necessary.  The person shall
1-11     place a permanent hitching post and stile block on each side of the
1-12     gate within 60 feet of the gate.  The gate must be:
1-13                 (1)  at least 10 feet wide;
1-14                 (2)  free of obstructions above the gate;
1-15                 (3)  constructed so that opening and shutting the gate
1-16     will not cause unnecessary delay to persons, including emergency
1-17     personnel, [a person] using the road; and
1-18                 (4)  constructed with a fastening to hold the gate open
1-19     until a person using the gate passes through it.
1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-1     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. 3684 was passed by the House on April
         23, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3684 was passed by the Senate on May
         26, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor