SRC-AMY S.B. 461 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 461
78R3953 MTB-DBy: Staples
Infrastructure Development and Security
3/4/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law allows the operator of an emergency vehicle to
function contrary to some traffic laws, including exceeding the speed
limit, failing to stop at a red traffic signal, and standing or parking in
a prohibited manner, when responding to an emergency call for service,
pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the law, or responding to a
fire alarm, but not when directing traffic or functioning as a police
escort.  As proposed, S.B. 461 expands the definition of when conduct
contrary to certain traffic laws are allowed to during the provision of a
police escort or directing or diverting traffic. 

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 546.002, Transportation Code, as follows:

Sec. 546.002.  WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE. (a) Defines "police escort."

(b)  Creates Subsection (b) from existing text.  Includes in the
situations in which Section 546.001 applies, directing or diverting
traffic and conducting a police escort. Makes nonsubstantive changes.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.