HBA-MSH H.B. 971 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 971 By: Hardcastle Transportation 2/21/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, it is not an offense to ride without a properly fastened safety belt in a truck with a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of more than 1,500 pounds. Also, current law does not address the need for seatbelts to be fastened and adjusted properly so that they function correctly in the case of an accident. House Bill 971 provides that it is an offense to ride in the front seat of a light truck, which has a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of 2,000 pounds or less, without a seatbelt, and adds provisions relating to the proper fastening and adjustment of safety belts. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 971 amends the Transportation Code to set forth that a person at least 15 years of age who rides in the front seat of a light truck without being secured by a properly fastened and adjusted safety belt commits an offense. The bill sets forth that an operator of a passenger car or light truck who allows a child who is at least four years of age but less than 15 years in age to ride in the vehicle without a properly fastened and adjusted safety belt commits an offense. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.