SRC-AMY C.S.S.B. 461 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 461 78R8532 MTB-DBy: Staples Infrastructure Development and Security 3-17-2003 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.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 list of situations in which Section 546.001 applies, directing or diverting traffic for public safety purposes and conducting a police escort. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from the original bill in SECTION 1 by removing the proposed specification that a peace officer be full-time, in the definition of "police escort." Includes the specification that the directing or diverting of traffic be for public safety purposes.