HBA-MSH H.B. 1457 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1457 By: Moreno, Joe E. Transportation 3/29/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law offers no guarantee that an owner of an intermodal vehicle such as a trailer, chassis, or container will reimburse an operator of a towing or carrying vehicle for repairs made to bring the intermodal vehicle into compliance with state and federal regulations. Therefore, an owner has less incentive to maintain the intermodal vehicle in a safe operating condition. House Bill 1457 requires an owner of an intermodal vehicle to reimburse the operator of a towing or carrying vehicle for necessary repairs and other expenses. 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 House Bill 1457 amends the Transportation Code to require the owner of an intermodal vehicle that is declared out-of-service due to a violation of a federal or state safety regulation by an officer of the Department of Public Safety to reimburse the operator of the vehicle towing or carrying the intermodal vehicle for any equipment or repair necessary to bring the intermodal vehicle into compliance, and any fine or penalty paid and reasonable attorney's fees paid in connection with the order. The bill defines an intermodal vehicle as a trailer, chassis, or container designed for interchangeable use in two or more modes of transport that is towed or carried as a part of a commercial motor vehicle. The owner is required to reimburse the operator only if the out-of-service order is issued before the sixth day after the date the operator takes possession or control of the intermodal vehicle. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.