BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 330

                                                                                                                                          By: Carona

                                                                                                                               Law Enforcement

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Current law allows certified non-commissioned employees of Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to perform inspections of vehicles only at ports, or fixed site facilities. 

 

S.B. 330 allows DPS to utilize noncommissioned commercial motor vehicle inspection staff at all inspection sites located throughout Texas, including temporary roadside and weight inspection stations that are periodically set up to ensure commercial vehicle safety. This legislation aims to put more commercial vehicle enforcement officers at inspection sites to increase safety and enforcement. In addition, this bill seeks to accommodate smaller counties where there is not a fixed-site weight station.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Subsection (c), Section 621.402, Transportation Code is amended to replace “fixed-site facility” with “commercial motor vehicle inspection site”.

 

SECTION 2.   Subsection (d), Section 644.103, Transportation Code is amended to replace “fixed-site facility” with “commercial motor vehicle inspection site”.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Immediately, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.