1-1 By: Gallego (Senate Sponsor - Shapleigh) H.B. No. 299
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2001;
1-3 May 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on State
1-4 Affairs; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to speed limits on state highways.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Section 545.353, Transportation Code, is amended
1-11 by amending Subsection (d) and by adding Subsection (h) to read as
1-12 follows:
1-13 (d) Except as provided by Subsection (h), the [The]
1-14 commission may not:
1-15 (1) modify the rules established by Section
1-16 545.351(b);
1-17 (2) establish a speed limit of more than 70 miles per
1-18 hour; or
1-19 (3) increase the speed limit for a vehicle described
1-20 by Section 545.352(b)(5).
1-21 (h) Notwithstanding Section 545.352(b), the commission may
1-22 establish a speed limit of 75 miles per hour on a part of the
1-23 highway system if:
1-24 (1) the commission determines that 75 miles per hour
1-25 is a reasonable and safe speed for that part of the highway system;
1-26 and
1-27 (2) that part of the highway is located in a county
1-28 with a population density of less than 10 persons per square mile.
1-29 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-30 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-31 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1-32 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-33 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-34 * * * * *