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.