HBA-MPA, RAR H.B. 994 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 994
By: Moreno, Joe
Transportation
4/21/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, cellular phones are enjoying a dramatic increase in usage.  The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there are
more than 35 million cellular phones now in use in the United States, and
estimates the number will increase to as many as 80 million by the year
2000. According to a recent University of Toronto study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine talking on the phone while driving
increases the risk of collision significantly.  H.B. 994 prohibits a person
from using a telephone while operating a motor vehicle. 

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 Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 545.424, as follows: 

Sec. 545.424.  USE OF TELEPHONE.  Prohibits a motor vehicle operator from
using a telephone while operating a vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped
or the telephone is used without use of either of the operator's hands. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.