BILL ANALYSIS
By: Leibowitz
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Shortly after taking over control of the Indiana Toll Road in 2006, Cintra and Macquarie Infrastructure Group, the private operators of the toll road placed sand-filled barrels blocking emergency turnarounds to prevent toll road users who miss their exit from using them to turn around. Public safety personnel say the barrels could present tremendous challenges in getting emergency services to the scene of accidents, fires, spills, pipeline ruptures, train derailments and any other emergencies in a timely manner, when every minute matters.
This bill prohibits the impeding of emergency crossover lanes for authorized emergency vehicles on toll roads.
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. Mandates that emergency crossovers on toll roads remain accessible and unimpeded at all times to authorized emergency vehicles.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of 2/3 of all 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, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.