AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law maintains that local political subdivisions, such as cities and counties, must install and maintain stop signs on local roads, highways, or streets. A significant number of Texas property owners' association members have expressed interest in securing the safety of children, pedestrians, and cyclists in their communities by installing solar-powered light-emitting diode (LED) stop signs. Interested parties are concerned that property owners' associations do not have the authority to install and maintain solar-powered LED stop signs. H.B. 745 seeks to give a property owners' association this additional safety tool by allowing political subdivisions to consent to an association's option to take on the burden of installing and maintaining solar-powered LED stop signs.

 

H.B. 745 amends current law relating to the installation of solar-powered stop signs by a property owners' association.

 

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 Section 430.002, Transportation Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 430.002. New heading: SIGNS ERECTED BY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. (a) Makes no change to this subsection.

 

(b) Authorizes a property owners' association to install a speed feedback sign or a solar-powered light-emitting diode (LED) stop sign on a road, highway, or street in the association's jurisdiction if:

 

(1) the association receives the consent of the governing body of the political subdivision that maintains the road, highway, or street for the placement of the sign; and

 

(2) the association pays for the installation of the sign.

 

(c) Provides that a property owners' association that installs a sign, rather than a speed feedback sign, under this section is responsible for the maintenance of the sign.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.