HBA-MAJ H.B. 377 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 377
By: Williams
Transportation
4/1/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the commissioners court of a county cannot set a speed limit
lower than 30 miles per hour. Unincorporated areas are subject to the speed
limits set by a county commissioners court.  Some of these areas have
narrow roads and certain geographical features which limit visibility.
H.B. 377 gives a commissioners court of a county the authority to legally
lower the speed limit of a road to 20 miles per hour if it determines the
prima facie speed limit is unreasonable or unsafe.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 545.355(a), Transportation Code, by lowering
from 30 to 20 miles per hour the speed limit that can be set on a county
road or highway where a county commissioners court determines the prima
facie speed limit is unreasonable or unsafe. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.