BILL ANALYSIS
By: Goolsby
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law provides that a person commits an offense if a person at least 15 years of age is riding in the front seat of a passenger vehicle while the vehicle is being operated and occupies a seat that is equipped with a safety belt but is not secured in the safety belt. House Bill 245 creates an offense for anyone who is at least 15 years of age in a passenger vehicle, occupying a seat equipped with a safety belt, but is not secured in the safety belt.
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 545.413 (a) of the Transportation Code by creating an offense for anyone who is at least 15 years of age in a passenger vehicle, occupying a seat equipped with a safety belt, but is not secured in the safety belt.
Section 2: States that the change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.