BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 926

                                                                                                                                       By: Huffman

                                                                                                 Transportation & Homeland Security

                                                                                                                                            6/11/2009

                                                                                                                                              Enrolled

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Owners of emergency vehicles are getting red light camera citations for going through red lights while operating in the line of duty.

 

S.B. 926 prohibits a local authority from imposing or attempting to impose a civil penalty under this chapter on the owner of an authorized emergency vehicle.  This bill provides that an employer is not prohibited from taking disciplinary action against an employee who operated the vehicle in violation of a rule or policy of the employer.

 

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 Chapter 707, Transportation Code, by adding Section 707.0021, as follows:

 

Sec. 707.0021.  IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTY ON OWNER OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE.  (a) Defines "authorized emergency vehicle."

 

(b) Prohibits a local authority from imposing or attempting to impose a civil penalty under this chapter on the owner of an authorized emergency vehicle.

 

(c) Provides that this section does not prohibit an employer from taking disciplinary action against an employee who as the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle operated the vehicle in violation of a rule or policy of the employer.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2009.