BILL ANALYSIS
By: Murphy
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) may drive on a public street, road or highway that is not an interstate or limited-access highway if the transportation is in connection with agricultural purposes and if the operator attaches a triangular orange flag on an eight-foot-long pole at the back of the vehicle, the vehicle’s headlights and taillights are illuminated, the operator holds a driver’s license as defined by Section 521.001, Transportation Code, the operation occurs in the daytime, and the operation does not exceed a distance of 25 miles from the point of origin to the destination. As proposed, H.B. 2127 would permit the use of an all-terrain vehicle in utility work performed by a utility under the same conditions as the use of an all-terrain vehicle for agricultural purposes.
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 663.037, Transportation Code, as follows:
Renumbers Subsection (d)(1) as (d)(1)(A) and adds subparagraph (B) to provide that transportation through use of an all-terrain vehicle on a public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or limited highway can be in connection with utility work performed by a utility. Renumbers the last paragraph of Subsection (d) as Subsection (d-1) and makes conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.