C.S.H.B. 1527 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1527
By: Harper-Brown
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 1527 78(R)    Currently, there is no specific provision or direction
to motorists regarding actions to be taken if they approach a traffic
signal with no indications displayed.  Loss of power at a traffic signal
is a fairly rare event, but it can cause significant congestion during
rush hour conditions.  There is a general misunderstanding of the
appropriate actions to take when approaching an intersection with no
indications, and this confusion can lead to collisions in the intersection
resulting in injury and property damage. 
  
CSHB 1527 would correct an omission in state law and would clarify correct
actions for motorists. CSHB 1527 would direct an operator of a vehicle
facing a traffic-control signal that does not display any indication to
treat the traffic-control signal as a stop sign therefore granting
immediate use of the intersection. 

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 1:  Amends Section 544.007 of the Transportation Code by adding
Subsection (i) to require that an operator treat a traffic-signal that
does not display any indication as if the intersection had a stop sign. 

SECTION 2:  Amends Section 545.151 (a) of the Transportation Code by
separating subsection (A) from subsection (1) and adding subsection (B) to
require that an operator approaching an intersection with a
traffic-control signal that does not display any indication should stop,
yield and grant immediate use of the intersection. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon  passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act
takes effect September 1, 2003. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute differs from the original in that the substitute replaces
the phrase "does not display any indication"with the phrase "does not
display any indication in any of the signal heads" in SECTION 1,
Subsection (i), lines 8 and 9 and SECTION 2, Subsection (B), lines 17 and
18.