SRC-LBB C.S.S.B. 540 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 540
By: Williams
Infrastructure Development and Security
3/18/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 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. C.S.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

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 545.355, Transportation Code, as follows:

 (a)  Makes a nonsubstantive 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 commision, if the commissioners court
determines that the speed limit on the road or highway is 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.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Amends As Filed S.B. 540, proposed Section 545.355(b)(2),
Transportation Code, by inserting additional text that provides an
exception to the authority of a commissioners court of a county to lower
the speed limit to 20 miles per hour in a residence district, if the
roadway has been designated as a major thoroughfare by a city planning
commission. 

SECTION 2.  No change.