By:  Staples                                                      S.B. No. 461
	(In the Senate - Filed February 12, 2003; February 17, 2003, 
read first time and referred to Committee on Infrastructure 
Development and Security; March 19, 2003, reported adversely, with 
favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 
0; March 19, 2003, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 461                                    By:  Wentworth


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the operation of authorized emergency vehicles.                 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 546.002, Transportation Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	Sec. 546.002.  WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE.  (a)  In this 
section, "police escort" means facilitating the movement of a 
funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption 
for public safety purposes by a peace officer described by Articles 
2.12(1)-(4), Code of Criminal Procedure.
	(b)  Section 546.001 applies only when the operator is:                 
		(1)  responding to an emergency call;                                         
		(2)  pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the 
law; [or]
		(3)  responding to but not returning from a fire alarm;                
		(4)  directing or diverting traffic for public safety 
purposes; or   
		(5)  conducting a police escort.                                       
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.



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