BILL ANALYSIS
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 993 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a firefighter who is employed by or is a member of a fire department operated by an emergency services district, a volunteer fire department, or a fire department of a general-law municipality to close one or more lanes of a road or highway in the performance of official duties to protect the safety of persons or property.
The bill requires the closure to be limited to the affected lane or lanes and one additional lane unless the safety of emergency personnel operating on the road or highway requires more lanes to be closed. The bill requires a firefighter, in closing the lanes of a road or highway, to deploy one or more authorized emergency vehicles with audible and visual signals that meet the equipment requirements for those vehicles.
H.B. 993 amends current law relating to the closure of a road or highway by certain firefighters.
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 Subchapter A, Chapter 546, Transportation Code, by adding Section 546.007, as follows:
Sec. 546.007. CLOSURE OF ROAD OR HIGHWAY BY FIREFIGHTER. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a firefighter who is employed by or a member of:
(1) a fire department operated by an emergency services district;
(2) a volunteer fire department; or
(3) a fire department of a general-law municipality.
(b) Authorizes a firefighter, when performing the firefighter's official duties, to close one or more lanes of a road or highway to protect the safety of persons or property.
(c) Requires that the closure be limited to the affected lane or lanes and one additional lane unless the safety of emergency personnel operating on the road or highway requires more lanes to be closed.
(d) Requires the firefighter, in making a closure under this section, to deploy one or more authorized emergency vehicles with audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of Sections 547.305 (Restrictions on Use of Lights) and 547.702 (Additional Equipment Requirements for Authorized Emergency Vehicles).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2011.