By:  Bonnen (Senate Sponsor - Williams)                           H.B. No. 1540
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 13, 2005; 
April 14, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Natural Resources; May 6, 2005, reported adversely, with favorable 
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; 
May 6, 2005, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1540                                   By:  Seliger

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the regulation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of the idling of a motor vehicle while the driver is using the vehicle's sleeper berth; providing a penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 382.0191 to read as follows: Sec. 382.0191. IDLING OF MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE USING SLEEPER BERTH. (a) In this section, "idling" means allowing an engine to run while the motor vehicle is not engaged in forward or reverse motion. (b) The commission may not prohibit or limit the idling of a motor vehicle when idling is necessary to power a heater or air conditioner while a driver is using the vehicle's sleeper berth for a government-mandated rest period. (c) No driver using the vehicle's sleeper berth may idle the vehicle in a school zone or within 1,000 feet of a public school during its hours of operation. An offense under this subsection shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. (d) This section expires September 1, 2007. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
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