BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 481
By: Carona
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Contract carriers transport train operating crews to and from trains, and between terminals. Railroads often save money using the services of outside vendors. Generally, the vehicle the contract carriers uses is a small passenger van designed to transport eight or fewer passengers, including the driver. The contract carrier may transport crews between two local points or across long distances. In certain cases, these trips may take several hours.
When contract carriers were first regulated in 1997, they were mostly small businesses with a regional scope. Since that time large businesses have grown to provide these carrier services. They need more regulation to ensure the safety of their passengers. Section 644.054 (Regulation of Contract Carriers of Certain Passengers), Transportation Code, does not designate mandatory drug and alcohol testing.
S.B. 481 amends current law relating to safety regulations for certain contract carriers.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas in SECTION 1 (Section 644.054, Transportation Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 644.054, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:
(b) Requires the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) to adopt rules regulating the operation of a contract carrier to which this section applies. Requires that the rules require a contract carrier to perform alcohol and drug testing of vehicle operators on employment, on suspicion of alcohol or drug abuse, and periodically as determined by DPS, and require a contract carrier, at a minimum, to maintain liability insurance in the amount of $1.5 million for each vehicle. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(c) Requires DPS to inform contract carriers and railroad companies that employ contract carriers of the requirements of state statutes applicable to contract carriers.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.