BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 66

                                                                                                                                        By: Zaffirini

Transportation & Homeland Security

7/25/2007

Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In current law, the authority to authorize the construction of cattle guards is limited to county commissioners courts in counties with less than 60,000 persons.  Lack of cattle guards in areas with grazing livestock presents a danger to the public. 

S.B. 66 removes the limitation that only counties with less than 60,000 persons can authorize construction of new cattle guards.  This bill also provides that cattle on certain county roads are not considered to be running at large.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading to Section 251.009, Transportation Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 251.009.  CONSTRUCTION OF CATTLE GUARDS ON COUNTY ROADS; OFFENSE. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 251.009(a), Transportation Code, by deleting existing text that limits the maximum population of a county that can authorize cattle guard construction on county roads.

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 143, Agriculture Code, by adding Section 143.003, as follows:

Sec. 143.003.  CATTLE ON COUNTY ROAD WITH CATTLE GUARD.  Provides that cattle on county roads are not considered to be running at large under certain conditions. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.