H.B. 931 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 931
By: Chavez
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

A negligent driver who fails to yield the right of way are can cause
serious bodily injury and death to innocent drivers and motorcycle riders.
HB 931 places a penalty on drivers that fail to yield the right of way and
result in the serious bodily injury and death to innocent drivers and
motorcycle riders. 

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

HB 931 amends the Transportation Code to provide that an offense is a
misdemeanor that is punishable by a fine not more than $4,000, or
confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both the fine
and confinement; if the offense is a misdemeanor that will be punished by
a fine of  $4,000 and confinement in jail for a term not less than 30 days
and not more than one year. 

 if it is shown at trial of the commission of the offense that as a result:

 a collision that caused property damage occurred, or a collision that
caused serious bodily injury or death  

HB 931 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a judge that
grants community supervision to a defendant convicted of a failure to
yield the right of way to submit to at least 30days  of confinement in
jail if the failure to yield the right of way results in serious bodily
injury or death. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003