BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1363

80R7422 MTB-D                                                                                                           By: Williams

Transportation & Homeland Security

4/2/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law authorizes employees of municipal utility companies to use all-terrain vehicles on public streets, roads, or highways in order to inspect utility lines while employees of privately-owned utility companies are prohibited from using all-terrain vehicles.  Operators of all-terrain vehicles are also authorized to use all-terrain vehicles on public streets, roads, or highways in connection with agricultural work.

As proposed, S.B. 1363 authorizes utility workers to drive all-terrain vehicles on a public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or limited access highway if the operation of the vehicle is in connection to utility work.

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 Section 663.037, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1), as follows:

(d)  Authorizes the operator of an all-terrain vehicle to drive the vehicle on a public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or limited-access highway if the transportation is in connection with utility work performed by a utility.  Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(d-1)  Creates this subsection from existing text.  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.