86R2142 BEE-D
 
  By: Minjarez H.B. No. 119
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to liability for and reporting of accidents involving
  certain motor vehicles.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 545.457 to read as follows:
         Sec. 545.457.  LIABILITY OF MANUFACTURER OF MODIFIED
  AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) The manufacturer of an automated
  motor vehicle is not liable for damage that arises from an accident
  involving the vehicle if a person other than the manufacturer
  modified or attempted to modify the vehicle without the
  manufacturer's consent and:
               (1)  the modification or attempted modification of the
  vehicle was the direct cause of the accident; or
               (2)  the modification or attempted modification of the
  vehicle interfered with the normal operation of the vehicle.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply if the damage that arises
  from an accident involving an automated motor vehicle is caused by a
  defect that was present at the time of the vehicle's manufacture or
  first sale.
         SECTION 2.  Section 550.064(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An accident report form prepared by the department must:
               (1)  require sufficiently detailed information to
  disclose the cause and conditions of and the persons and vehicles
  involved in an accident if the form is for the report to be made by a
  person investigating the accident;
               (2)  include a way to designate and identify a peace
  officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services employee who is
  involved in an accident while driving a law enforcement vehicle,
  fire department vehicle, or emergency medical services vehicle
  while performing the person's duties;
               (3)  require a statement by a person described by
  Subdivision (2) as to the nature of the accident; [and]
               (4)  include a way to designate whether an individual
  involved in an accident wants to be contacted by a person seeking to
  obtain employment as a professional described by Section 38.01(12),
  Penal Code;
               (5)  include a way to indicate whether:
                     (A)  an automated motor vehicle as defined by
  Section 545.451 was at fault or otherwise involved in the accident;
  and
                     (B)  the owner of an automated motor vehicle
  involved in the accident was contacted; and
               (6)  include a way to indicate whether an oversize or
  overweight vehicle described by Subtitle E was at fault or
  otherwise involved in the accident.
         SECTION 3.  Section 545.457, Transportation Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.