S.B. No. 526

AN ACT

relating to providing that a municipality may allow a municipal fire marshal or arson investigator to travel in an unmarked municipal vehicle when performing official duties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 721.005, Transportation Code, as amended by Chapters 66 and 140, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The governing body of a municipality may exempt from the requirements of Section 721.004:

(1) an automobile when used to perform an official duty by a:

(A) police department;

(B) magistrate as defined by Article 2.09, Code of Criminal Procedure; [or]

(C) medical examiner; [or]

(D) [(4)] municipal code enforcement officer designated to enforce environmental criminal laws; or

(E) municipal fire marshal or arson investigator; or

(2) an automobile used by a municipal employee only when conducting an investigation involving suspected fraud or other mismanagement within the municipality.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the 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.

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President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 526 passed the Senate on March 21, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0.

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Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 526 passed the House on April 27, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 0, two present not voting.

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Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

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Date

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Governor