HBA-MPA H.B. 3328 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3328
By: Gallego
Transportation
3/28/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas highway system encompasses 77,042 miles of state-maintained
highway, most of which pass through flat, sparsely populated areas.  The
vast size of Texas requires many people to spend a great number of hours on
the road.  Ten western states with similar landscapes and population
densities, including the surrounding states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and
Arizona, have already set their speed limits at 75 miles per hour.  H.B.
3328 raises the speed limit on Texas highways from 70 to 75 miles per hour. 

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 545.352(b), Transportation Code, to provide that
75, rather than 70, miles per hour in daytime is a lawful speed for a
passenger car, motorcycle, or other specified motor vehicles on a highway
numbered by the state or the United States outside of an urban district,
including a farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road, unless a special hazard
exists that requires a slower speed for compliance with Section 545.351(b)
(Maximum Speed Requirement). 

SECTION 2.  Authorizes the speed limit on a highway that has a speed limit
of 70 miles per hour in the daytime and 65 miles an hour in nighttime on
the effective date of this Act to be increased  only if the Texas
Department of Transportation determines that the increase is appropriate on
that highway or portion of highway. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.   Emergency clause.