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.
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