| 1 | 1 | | S.B. No. 481 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to safety regulations for certain contract carriers. |
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| 6 | 6 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 7 | 7 | | SECTION 1. Section 644.054, Transportation Code, is amended |
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| 8 | 8 | | by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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| 9 | 9 | | follows: |
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| 10 | 10 | | (b) The department shall adopt rules regulating the |
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| 11 | 11 | | operation of a contract carrier to which this section applies. The |
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| 12 | 12 | | rules must: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) prohibit a person from operating a vehicle for |
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| 14 | 14 | | more than 12 hours in a day; |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) require a person who operates a vehicle for the |
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| 16 | 16 | | number of consecutive hours or days the department determines is |
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| 17 | 17 | | excessive to rest for a period determined by the department; |
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| 18 | 18 | | (3) require a contract carrier to keep a record of all |
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| 19 | 19 | | hours a vehicle subject to regulation under this section is |
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| 20 | 20 | | operated; [and] |
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| 21 | 21 | | (4) require a contract carrier to perform alcohol and |
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| 22 | 22 | | drug testing of vehicle operators on employment, on suspicion of |
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| 23 | 23 | | alcohol or drug abuse, and periodically as determined by the |
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| 24 | 24 | | department; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (5) require a contract carrier, at a minimum, to |
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| 26 | 26 | | maintain liability insurance in the amount of $1.5 million for each |
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| 27 | 27 | | vehicle; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | (6) be determined by the department to be necessary to |
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| 29 | 29 | | protect the safety of a passenger being transported or the general |
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| 30 | 30 | | public. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (c) The department shall inform contract carriers and |
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| 32 | 32 | | railroad companies that employ contract carriers of the |
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| 33 | 33 | | requirements of state statutes applicable to contract carriers. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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| 35 | 35 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 36 | 36 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 37 | 37 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 481 passed the Senate on |
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| 38 | 38 | | March 19, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 39 | 39 | | ______________________________ |
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| 40 | 40 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 41 | 41 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 481 passed the House on |
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| 42 | 42 | | May 12, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, one |
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| 43 | 43 | | present not voting. |
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| 44 | 44 | | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 46 | 46 | | Approved: |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Date |
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| 49 | 49 | | ______________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Governor |
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