BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1028 81R12263 TRH-D By: Watson Transportation & Homeland Security 4/16/2009 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Motorists are being injured or killed as a result of failing to use available seat belts. Currently, Texas law requires that only the driver and front-seat passengers wear seat belts. This bill extends the current legal requirement for the use of safety belts to include back-seat restraints, but does not enhance any penalty. C.S.S.B. 1028 amends current law relating to the offense of operating or riding in a passenger vehicle while not secured by a safety belt. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.413(a), Transportation Code, to provide that a person commits an offense if the person is at least 15 years of age, is riding in a passenger vehicle, rather than riding in the front seat of a passenger vehicle, while the vehicle is being operated, is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt, and is not secured by a safety belt, or is the operator of a school bus equipped with a safety belt for the operator's seat, and the person is not secured by the safety belt. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1028
81R12263 TRH-D By: Watson
Transportation & Homeland Security
4/16/2009
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Motorists are being injured or killed as a result of failing to use available seat belts. Currently, Texas law requires that only the driver and front-seat passengers wear seat belts. This bill extends the current legal requirement for the use of safety belts to include back-seat restraints, but does not enhance any penalty.
C.S.S.B. 1028 amends current law relating to the offense of operating or riding in a passenger vehicle while not secured by a safety belt.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.413(a), Transportation Code, to provide that a person commits an offense if the person is at least 15 years of age, is riding in a passenger vehicle, rather than riding in the front seat of a passenger vehicle, while the vehicle is being operated, is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt, and is not secured by a safety belt, or is the operator of a school bus equipped with a safety belt for the operator's seat, and the person is not secured by the safety belt.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.