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.