By Lindsay                                            S.B. No. 1620
         76R4243 DRH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a prohibition on certain agreements between certain
 1-3     political subdivisions and a private entity that provides tow
 1-4     trucks.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 643, Transportation Code,
 1-7     is amended by adding Section 643.203 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 643.203.  PROHIBITION ON EXCLUSIVE OR PREFERENTIAL
 1-9     CONTRACTS:  CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.  (a) This section
1-10     applies only to:
1-11                 (1)  a municipality with a population of more than 1.5
1-12     million; or
1-13                 (2)  a rapid transit authority in which the principal
1-14     municipality has a population of more than 1.5 million.
1-15           (b)  The governing body of a municipality or the board of a
1-16     rapid transit authority may not enter into an agreement with a
1-17     towing company by which the towing company is given the exclusive
1-18     or preferential right to provide tow trucks to the scene of a motor
1-19     vehicle accident in response to a call by a peace officer of the
1-20     municipality or the authority.
1-21           (c)  In this section, "towing company" has the meaning
1-22     assigned by Section 684.001.
1-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-4     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-5     passage, and it is so enacted.