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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation on |
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shared motor-assisted scooters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "motor-assisted |
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scooter" has the meaning assigned by Section 551.351, |
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Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY AND REPORT. (a) The Texas Department of |
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Transportation, in consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation |
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Institute or other institutions of higher education, local |
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governments, or industry representatives, shall conduct a study on |
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the use of shared motor-assisted scooters. |
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(b) The study must examine: |
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(1) the legal definition and existing local regulation |
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of shared motor-assisted scooters; |
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(2) the liability issues related to shared |
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motor-assisted scooter use and accidents; |
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(3) the operation of shared motor-assisted scooters, |
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including: |
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(A) safety standards; |
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(B) interaction with pedestrians; |
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(C) shared infrastructure; and |
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(D) operator qualifications; |
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(4) the economic impact of shared motor-assisted |
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scooters, including any burdens on or benefits to local |
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governments; |
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(5) accessibility of shared motor-assisted scooters; |
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(6) shared motor-assisted scooters' impact on public |
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transportation; |
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(7) the social norms of shared motor-assisted scooter |
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use, including shared motor-assisted scooter etiquette; and |
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(8) how shared motor-assisted scooters have been and |
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may be integrated into the overall transportation system. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2020, the Texas Department of |
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Transportation shall submit to the legislature a report on the |
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findings of the study conducted under this section. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2019. |