HBA-KDB S.B. 1511 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1511
By: Lucio
Transportation
5/17/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the penalty for altering or removing a traffic control
device (device) or railroad sign or signal (sign) is a fine of not less
than $1 or more than $200.  There is concern that the offense of removing
or altering a device or sign may result in traffic accidents that cause
bodily injury or property damage. Senate Bill 1511 provides that such an
offense is a Class B misdemeanor if the removal or alteration causes a
person other than the person committing the offense to suffer an injury or
property damage. 

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

Senate Bill 1511 amends the Transportation Code to provide that a person
commits a Class B misdemeanor if the removal or alteration of a traffic
control device (device) or railroad sign or signal (sign) causes another
person to suffer property damage or bodily injury. 

The bill prohibits a person from selling a device or sign to a recycler,
and prohibits a recycler from recycling all or part of the material in a
device or sign.  These provisions do not apply to a device or sign sold or
recycled by a governmental entity as permitted by law. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.