C.S.H.B. 761 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 761 By: Coleman Transportation Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE H.B. 761 78(R) As currently written, the Transportation Code permits individuals who use parking spaces designated for disabled individuals as merchandise delivery or loading zones to escape punishment. The current statute fails to make it an offense to temporarily halt a vehicle in a space designated for disabled individuals when loading or unloading merchandise. This Act allows a person who temporarily leaves his vehicle in a space designated for disabled parking while delivering or loading goods to be held liable for that action. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Section I. Amends Section 681.001, Transportation Code, by adding the definitions of "stand"or "standing". Section II. Amends Section 681.011, Transportation Code, by making it an offense to stand a vehicle in a place designated for disabled access without the proper disabled parking placard or other disabled designation. Section III. The change in law applies to offenses committed after the effective date of this Act. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute differs from the original in that the original included the definition of "park" or "parking" as an offense. The substitute removes the definition of "park" and removed "park/parking" as an offense and left "stand/standing" as an offense.