83R8863 JXC-F By: Farias H.B. No. 307 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 307: By: Martinez C.S.H.B. No. 307 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to safety equipment requirements for certain cyclists; creating an offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 551.104(b), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A person may not operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the person or bicycle is equipped with: (1) a lamp [on the front of the bicycle] that emits a flashing or steady white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of the bicycle; and (2) [on the rear of the bicycle: [(A) a red reflector that is: [(i) of a type approved by the department; and [(ii) visible when directly in front of lawful upper beams of motor vehicle headlamps from all distances from 50 to 300 feet to the rear of the bicycle; or [(B)] a lamp that emits a flashing or steady red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.