S.B. 1635 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1635
By: Staples
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a person is prohibited from carrying a passenger on an
all-terrain vehicle on public property.  S.B. 1635 amends the
Transportation Code to change the definition of an all-terrain vehicle to
include a vehicle manufactured with additional seating for transporting
passengers, allowing an individual to carry a passenger if the
manufacturing standards for the vehicle make provisions for transporting
passengers. 

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 663.001(1), Transportation Code, to redefine
"all-terrain vehicle" to include a motor vehicle that is equipped with a
saddle for the use of a passenger, if the motor vehicle is designed by the
manufacturer to transport a passenger. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 663.036, Transportation Code, as follows:

Sec.  663.036.  New heading:  CARRYING PASSENGERS.  Prohibits a person
from carrying a passenger on an all-terrain vehicle operated on public
property unless the allterrain vehicle is designed by the manufacturer to
transport a passenger. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.