BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 1028

By: Watson

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Motorists are being injured or killed as a result of failing to use available seat belts.  Currently, Texas law requires that only the driver and front-seat passengers wear seat belts.  This bill extends the current legal requirement for the use of safety belts to include back-seat restraints, but does not enhance any penalty. 

 

S.B. 1028 amends current law relating to the offense of operating or riding in a passenger vehicle while not secured by a safety belt.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 545.413(a), Transportation Code, to provide that a person commits an offense if the person is at least 15 years of age, is riding in a passenger vehicle, rather than riding in the front seat of a passenger vehicle, while the vehicle is being operated, is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt, and is not secured by a safety belt, or is the operator of a school bus equipped with a safety belt for the operator's seat, and the person is not secured by the safety belt.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2009.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2009.