BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1330

By: Raymond

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, safety flaps are required on  all road tractors, trucks, trailers, and truck-tractors used in combination with a semitrailer or semitrailer in combination with a towing vehicle that has at least four tires on the rearmost axle of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination. However, a loophole allows tractors, trailers, and truck-tractors with two super singles, or wide-base single tires on the rearmost axle, to bypass the safety flap requirement.  Semi trucks with wide-base single tires pose the same safety concerns as the more common rear axle configuration, yet there is no requirement for these trucks to use safety flaps.  H.B. 1330 would remedy this problem by including these trucks among the vehicles and vehicle combinations that must have safety flaps.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1330 amends the Transportation Code to make the provision requiring  a vehicle or vehicle combination to be equipped with safety guards or flaps if at least four tires are on the rearmost axle of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination also apply if at least two super single tires are in those positions.  The bill defines "super single tire" as a wide-base, single tire that may be used in place of two standard tires on the same axle.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.