BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1770

By: Martinez

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As Texas seeks to improve and grow the infrastructure of state highways and roads, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of operators of service vehicles used in the maintenance of electrical power lines. H.B. 1770 seeks to protect these operators by extending passing protections afforded to certain tow trucks, emergency vehicles, and Texas Department of Transportation vehicles to service vehicles used in the maintenance of electrical power lines.

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

H.B. 1770 amends the Transportation Code to include a service vehicle used in the maintenance of an electrical power line and using visual signals that comply with the standards and specifications for such vehicles among the vehicles that trigger the requirement for an operator of another vehicle, on approaching, to slow to a specified speed or vacate the lane closest to the vehicle when driving on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the service vehicle.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.