BILL ANALYSIS
By: Jackson, Jim
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, operators of a passenger car or light truck may not draw a trailer, semi-trailer, house trailer, or another motor vehicle unless approved safety chains are attached in a manner approved by the department. This does not apply to the drawing of a trailer or semi-trailer used for agricultural purposes. This bill would eliminate the agricultural purposes exception.
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. Section 545.410(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) An
operator of a passenger car or light truck may not draw a trailer, semitrailer,
house trailer, or another motor vehicle unless safety chains of a type approved
by the department are attached in a manner approved by the department from the
trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or drawn motor vehicle to the drawing
vehicle. [This subsection does not apply to the drawing of a trailer or
semitrailer used for agricultural purposes.]
SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs before that date.
(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.