SRC-BWC S.B. 113 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 113 By: Moncrief Jurisprudence 6/7/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law requires all children between the ages of four and 15 to wear a seatbelt while riding in a vehicle. S.B. 113 increases the age from 15 to 17 regarding the requirement for passengers anywhere in the vehicle to wear a safety belt. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 545.412(a) and (f), Transportation Code, by providing that a person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger vehicle, rather than a car or light truck, transports a child who is younger than four, rather than two, years of age or less than 36 inches in height, and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the safety seat system. Makes nonsubstantive changes. Defines "passenger vehicle," "safety belt," and "secured." Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 545.413(a)-(c), and (h), Transportation Code, by providing that a person commits an offense if the person allows a child who is at least four years of age but younger than 17, rather than 15, years of age to ride in the vehicle without requiring the child to be secured in a safety belt, providing that the occupied seat is equipped with a safety belt. Provides that it is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person meets certain requirements or the person is operating a commercial vehicle registered as a farm vehicle under the provisions of Section 502.163 that does not have a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating of 48,000 pounds or more. Deletes the definition of "passenger car" and "safety belt." Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 547K, Transportation Code, by adding Section 547.614, as follows: Sec. 547.614. RESTRICTIONS ON AIRBAGS. Provides that a person commits a Class A misdemeanor if the person knowingly installs or purports to install an airbag in a vehicle and does not install an airbag that meets all applicable federal safety regulations for an airbag installed in a vehicle of the make, model, and year. SECTION 4. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2001.