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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the inspection, maintenance, and repair of guardrails |
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by the Texas Department of Transportation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 201.623 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.623. GUARDRAIL INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND |
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REPAIR. (a) This section applies only to a guardrail constructed on |
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a highway or right-of-way of a highway that is in the state highway |
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system. |
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(b) The department shall conduct a study regarding the |
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inspection, maintenance, and repair of guardrails. The study must |
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include: |
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(1) the number of guardrails; |
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(2) the date of the last inspection of each guardrail; |
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(3) the condition of each guardrail; |
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(4) standards and best practices for the inspection, |
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maintenance, and repair of guardrails; |
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(5) the potential of each guardrail to be damaged by a |
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motor vehicle; |
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(6) whether each guardrail is designed to absorb the |
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energy from a potential impact from a motor vehicle; and |
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(7) an estimate of the amount of money and the number |
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of full-time equivalent employees necessary to inspect and maintain |
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the guardrails. |
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(c) The department shall develop a plan to implement the |
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study conducted under Subsection (b). The plan must: |
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(1) dedicate a portion of money from funds related to |
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highway maintenance for the inspection, maintenance, and repair of |
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guardrails; |
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(2) establish minimum standards based on the results |
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of the study under which the department conducts inspection, |
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maintenance, and repair of guardrails; and |
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(3) establish a schedule for the inspection, |
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maintenance, and repair of guardrails. |
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(d) The department shall: |
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(1) update the plan developed under Subsection (c) as |
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new information is made available regarding the inspection, |
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maintenance, and repair of guardrails; |
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(2) maintain records of the inspection, maintenance, |
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and repair of guardrails; and |
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(3) publish on the department's Internet website the |
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records maintained by the department under Subdivision (2). |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2019, the Texas |
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Department of Transportation shall submit to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the legislature a report on the results of |
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the study conducted under Section 201.623(b), Transportation Code, |
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as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2021, the Texas |
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Department of Transportation shall submit to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the legislature the plan required by |
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Section 201.623(c), Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |