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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to liability for and reporting of accidents involving |
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certain motor vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 545.457 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 545.457. LIABILITY OF MANUFACTURER OF MODIFIED |
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AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) The manufacturer of an automated |
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motor vehicle is not liable for damage that arises from an accident |
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involving the vehicle if a person other than the manufacturer |
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modified or attempted to modify the vehicle without the |
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manufacturer's consent and: |
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(1) the modification or attempted modification of the |
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vehicle was the direct cause of the accident; or |
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(2) the modification or attempted modification of the |
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vehicle interfered with the normal operation of the vehicle. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not apply if the damage that arises |
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from an accident involving an automated motor vehicle is caused by a |
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defect that was present at the time of the vehicle's manufacture or |
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first sale. |
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SECTION 2. Section 550.064(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) An accident report form prepared by the department must: |
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(1) require sufficiently detailed information to |
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disclose the cause and conditions of and the persons and vehicles |
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involved in an accident if the form is for the report to be made by a |
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person investigating the accident; |
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(2) include a way to designate and identify a peace |
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officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services employee who is |
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involved in an accident while driving a law enforcement vehicle, |
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fire department vehicle, or emergency medical services vehicle |
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while performing the person's duties; |
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(3) require a statement by a person described by |
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Subdivision (2) as to the nature of the accident; [and] |
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(4) include a way to designate whether an individual |
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involved in an accident wants to be contacted by a person seeking to |
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obtain employment as a professional described by Section 38.01(12), |
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Penal Code; |
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(5) include a way to indicate whether: |
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(A) an automated motor vehicle as defined by |
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Section 545.451 was at fault or otherwise involved in the accident; |
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and |
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(B) the owner of an automated motor vehicle |
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involved in the accident was contacted; and |
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(6) include a way to indicate whether an oversize or |
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overweight vehicle described by Subtitle E was at fault or |
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otherwise involved in the accident. |
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SECTION 3. Section 545.457, Transportation Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |