SRC-TJG H.B. 900 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 900
78R3226 MTB-DBy: King (Estes)
Criminal Justice
5/10/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the operator of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is only
allowed to travel on a public street, road, or highway that is not an
interstate or limited-access highway if the transportation is associated
with agricultural work.  Therefore, current law greatly limits the events
at which ATVs  can be used.  The increased mobility and surveillance
ability that an ATV offers could better equip law enforcement officers to
handle crowd control, sporting events, and other events that require an
increased coverage area.  H.B. 900 allows an on-duty peace officer to
operate an all-terrain vehicle on a public street, road, or highway that
is not an interstate or limited-access highway. 


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 Section 663.037, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (e) and (f) and adding Subsection (g), as follows: 

(e) and (f) Make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

(g) Authorizes a peace officer to operate an all-terrain vehicle on a
public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or
limited-access highway only if certain conditions apply. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.