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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of certain contract carriers and |
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subcontractors of contract carriers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 644.054, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "contract carrier" includes a |
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subcontractor of a contract carrier. |
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(a-1) This section applies only to a contract carrier that |
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transports an operating employee of a railroad on a road or highway |
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of this state in a vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers. |
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(b) The department shall adopt rules regulating the |
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operation of a contract carrier to which this section applies. The |
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rules must: |
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(1) prohibit a person from operating a vehicle for |
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more than 12 hours in a day; |
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(2) require a person who operates a vehicle for the |
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number of consecutive hours or days the department determines is |
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excessive to rest for a period determined by the department; |
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(3) require a contract carrier to keep a record of all |
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hours a vehicle subject to regulation under this section is |
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operated; |
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(4) require a contract carrier to perform alcohol and |
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drug testing of vehicle operators on employment, on suspicion of |
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alcohol or drug abuse, and periodically as determined by the |
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department; |
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(5) require a contract carrier, at a minimum, to |
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maintain liability insurance in the amount of $3 [$1.5] million for |
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each vehicle; and |
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(6) be determined by the department to be necessary to |
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protect the safety of a passenger being transported or the general |
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public. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |