78R4219 JTS-D

By:  Elkins                                                       H.B. No. 1001



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the penalty for speeding on a highway where the Texas 
Transportation Commission has established a speed limit for 
environmental purposes.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 542, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 542.405 to read as follows:
	Sec. 542.405.  FINE FOR SPEEDING OFFENSE IN ENVIRONMENTAL 
SPEED ZONE.  (a)  If a person commits an offense under Section 
545.351 on a part of the highway system where the Texas 
Transportation Commission has declared a prima facie speed limit 
for environmental purposes and the person was exceeding that speed 
limit by 20 miles per hour or less, the maximum fine applicable to 
the offense is $25.
	(b)  A person who delivers or issues for delivery insurance 
coverage for a motor vehicle may not consider an offense described 
by Subsection (a) in determining the rate for the coverage.  A 
person that violates this subsection is subject to the penalties 
described by Article 5.12-1, Insurance Code.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 545.3531 to read as follows:
	Sec. 545.3531.  SPEED LIMIT DECLARED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL 
PURPOSES.  If the Texas Transportation Commission declares on a 
highway a prima facie speed limit for environmental purposes, the 
commission shall inform the appropriate law enforcement agencies 
and courts of the declared speed limit and where the declared speed 
limit begins and ends on that highway.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to an offense committed on or after that date. An 
offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered 
by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.