HBA-MSH C.S.H.B. 674 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 674
By: Elkins
Transportation
3/14/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, vehicles are prohibited from parking on a sidewalk.
Some houses are situated such that there is not enough room to park in the
driveway without blocking the sidewalk.  This is especially a problem for
corner lots where the garage is located on the side of the house.  C.S.H.B.
674 authorizes the governing body of a municipality or county to adopt an
ordinance or order to authorize an operator to stop, stand, or park a
vehicle on a portion of a sidewalk that extends across a driveway. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 674 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the governing body
of a municipality or county to adopt an ordinance or order allowing the
operator of a passenger car or light truck to stop, stand, or park the
vehicle on a portion of a sidewalk that extends across a private driveway
if the driveway is not long enough to permit the operator to stop, stand,
or park in the driveway without stopping, standing, or parking on the
sidewalk.  The bill provides that in a conflict between state law and an
ordinance or order regarding stopping, standing, or parking on a sidewalk,
the ordinance or order prevails. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 674 differs from the original by establishing that stopping,
standing, or parking on a sidewalk is allowed only if the governing body of
a municipality or county adopts an ordinance or order allowing it while the
original authorizes any operator of a vehicle to stop, stand, or park the
vehicle on a sidewalk.