BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1530

By: Burton

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, an operator of a motor vehicle is not permitted to leave the vehicle running unattended. However, interested parties contend that new features on modern vehicles have allowed operators to remotely start a vehicle's engine to begin safely warming or cooling the car before entry. S.B. 1530 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 1530 amends the Transportation Code to specify that the prohibition against an operator leaving a vehicle unattended without taking certain actions to secure the vehicle applies to a vehicle unattended on a public highway or street. The bill exempts from the requirements that such an operator stop the engine, lock the ignition, and remove the key from the ignition an operator who starts the engine of a vehicle by using a remote starter or other similar device that remotely starts the vehicle's engine without placing the key in the ignition and that requires the key to be placed in the ignition or physically present in the vehicle before the vehicle can be operated.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.