BILL ANALYSIS
By: Carona
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current state law holds that commercial motor vehicle windows may be tinted at 25 percent luminous transmission, or the amount of outside light that come through the tinted window. However, window tinting requirements under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for commercial motor vehicles mandate a minimum of 70 percent of luminous transmission.
As proposed, S.B. 329 clarifies that a commercial motor vehicle operated in intrastate commerce must comply with federal window tinting requirements. This bill also eliminates a conflict between federal and state law and allows the state to continue to apply for discretionary federal funding under the Motor Carrier Assistance Program.
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 547.613(b), Transportation Code, by exempting commercial motor vehicles as defined by Section 644.001, Transportation Code, from requirements that motor vehicle windows be free of objects or materials that obstruct or reduce the vehicle operator's clear view, or that motor vehicle windows be free of transparent material that alters the color of or reduces light transmission.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.