By: Fletcher (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 343
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 27, 2011;
May 2, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation and Homeland Security; May 17, 2011, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 17, 2011,
sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the reporting and recording of a motor vehicle accident
involving an official vehicle driven by a peace officer,
firefighter, or an emergency medical services employee in the
course of official duties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 521.042(c), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) The record of a license holder who is employed as a peace
officer, fire fighter, or emergency medical services employee of
this state, a political subdivision of this state, or a special
purpose district may not include information relating to a traffic
accident that occurs [during an emergency] while the peace officer,
fire fighter, or emergency medical services employee is driving an
official vehicle in the course and scope of the license holder's
official duties if:
(1) the traffic accident resulted in damages to
property of less than $1,000; or
(2) an investigation of the accident by a peace
officer, other than a peace officer involved in the accident,
determines that the peace officer, fire fighter, or emergency
medical services employee involved in the accident was not at
fault.
SECTION 2. Section 550.064(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) An accident report form prepared by the department must:
(1) require sufficiently detailed information to
disclose the cause and conditions of and the persons and vehicles
involved in an accident if the form is for the report to be made by a
person involved in or investigating the accident;
(2) include a way to designate and identify a peace
officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services employee who
[during an emergency] is involved in an accident while driving a law
enforcement vehicle, fire department vehicle, or emergency medical
services vehicle while performing the person's duties;
(3) require a statement by a person described by
Subdivision (2) as to the nature of the accident [emergency]; and
(4) include a way to designate whether an individual
involved in an accident wants to be contacted by a person seeking to
obtain employment as a professional described by Section 38.01(12),
Penal Code.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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