S.B. 540 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 540
By: Williams
County Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, the commissioners court of a county has the authority to adjust
the speed limit on any road in the county that is not part of the state
highway system or within an incorporated municipality. However, the law
does not allow the commissioners court to reduce a speed limit to less
than 30 miles per hour.  Some residential areas in unincorporated areas,
which are subject to determinations made by the commissioners court with
regard to speed limits, have hazards such as winding roads, limited
visibility, and pedestrian traffic which may make a speed limit of 30
miles per hour unsafe. S.B. 540 authorizes the commissioners court of a
county to reduce the speed limit on a road within a district that is not
part of the state highway system or within an incorporated municipality to
20 miles per hour, in most instances. 

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 545.355, Transportation Code, as follows:
 (a)  Makes a non substantive change.
 (b)  Creates Subsection (b) from existing text and authorizes the
commissioners court of a county to declare a lower speed limit of not less
than 30 miles per hour on a county road or highway or 20 miles per hour in
a residence district, unless the roadway has been designated as a major
thoroughfare by a city planning commission, if the commissioners court
determines that the speed limit on the road or highway in unreasonable or
unsafe.  
 (c)  Creates Subsection (c) from existing text.
 Redesignates Subsections (b)-(c) as (d)-(e).

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

EFFECTIVE DATE
Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.