BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 523

By: Landgraf

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Residents of the Permian Basin are concerned with the frequency with which crashes involving commercial motor vehicles are occurring in West Texas. Recently, a commercial motor vehicle driver in Winkler County failed to control the speed of a vehicle, ultimately taking the life of a nine-year-old child. These residents are now calling for a greater law enforcement presence in the region and for the eligibility of local peace officers to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. H.B. 523 seeks to maximize the safety of all drivers in the region by extending to certain peace officers the eligibility to apply for certification to enforce those standards.

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. 523 amends the Transportation Code to make a county sheriff or deputy sheriff eligible to apply for certification to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards for a county:

·         any part of which is within 30 miles of New Mexico; and

·         that is adjacent to two or more counties that generated $100 million or more in oil and gas production tax revenue during the preceding state fiscal year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.