AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 2946 repeals Transportation Code provisions relating to a statewide toll-free telephone service maintained by the Department of Public Safety to report malfunctions of mechanical safety devices at intersections of a railroad track and a public road; relating to the required use of a bell and whistle or siren by locomotives at railroad crossings and the related offense for a violation of the required use; relating to an offense committed by a railway company if a company train obstructs for more than 10 minutes a street, railroad crossing, or public highway; and relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to grant a franchise to a railway company to obstruct a certain street crossing by a passenger train for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, mail, express, or freight for longer than 10 minutes.  (Sections 471.003, 471.006, 471.007 and 471.008, Transportation Code)

 

H.B. 2946 amends current law relating to certain laws governing the intersections of railroad tracks and public roadways.

 

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. Repealer: Section 471.003 (Telephone Service to Report Malfunctions of Mechanical Safety Devices at Crossings), Transportation Code.

 

Repealer: Section 471.006 (Use of Bell and Whistle or Siren at Crossings; Offense),  Transportation Code.

 

Repealer: Section 471.007 (Obstructing Railroad Crossings; Offense), Transportation Code.

 

Repealer: Section 471.008 (Franchise to Obstruct Street Crossing), Transportation Code.

 

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