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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the amount of liability insurance required to be |
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maintained on certain buses owned by a motor carrier. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 643.101(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Sections [Section] 643.1015 and |
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643.1016, the department by rule may set the amount of liability |
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insurance required at an amount that does not exceed the amount |
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required for a motor carrier under a federal regulation adopted |
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under 49 U.S.C. Section 13906(a)(1). In setting the amount the |
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department shall consider: |
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(1) the class and size of the vehicle; and |
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(2) the persons or cargo being transported. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 643, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 643.1016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 643.1016. AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN BUSES. (a) This |
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section applies only to a bus that is designed or used to transport |
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26 or more passengers, not including the operator, and is owned by a |
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motor carrier required to be registered under Subchapter B. |
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(b) The owner of a bus shall maintain liability insurance in |
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the amount of at least $10 million combined single limit. |
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SECTION 3. Section 643.103(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A motor carrier that is required to register under |
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Subchapter B must file with the department evidence of insurance in |
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the amounts required by Section 643.101, [or] 643.1015, or |
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643.1016, or evidence of financial responsibility as described by |
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Section 643.102, in a form prescribed by the department. The form |
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must be filed: |
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(1) at the time of the initial registration; |
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(2) at the time of a subsequent registration if the |
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motor carrier was required to be continuously registered under |
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Subchapter B and the carrier failed to maintain continuous |
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registration; |
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(3) at the time a motor carrier changes insurers; and |
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(4) at the time a motor carrier changes ownership, as |
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determined by rules adopted by the department. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |