86R2142 BEE-D
By: Minjarez H.B. No. 119
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to liability for and reporting of accidents involving
certain motor vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 545.457 to read as follows:
Sec. 545.457. LIABILITY OF MANUFACTURER OF MODIFIED
AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) The manufacturer of an automated
motor vehicle is not liable for damage that arises from an accident
involving the vehicle if a person other than the manufacturer
modified or attempted to modify the vehicle without the
manufacturer's consent and:
(1) the modification or attempted modification of the
vehicle was the direct cause of the accident; or
(2) the modification or attempted modification of the
vehicle interfered with the normal operation of the vehicle.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply if the damage that arises
from an accident involving an automated motor vehicle is caused by a
defect that was present at the time of the vehicle's manufacture or
first sale.
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 investigating the accident;
(2) include a way to designate and identify a peace
officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services employee who 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; [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;
(5) include a way to indicate whether:
(A) an automated motor vehicle as defined by
Section 545.451 was at fault or otherwise involved in the accident;
and
(B) the owner of an automated motor vehicle
involved in the accident was contacted; and
(6) include a way to indicate whether an oversize or
overweight vehicle described by Subtitle E was at fault or
otherwise involved in the accident.
SECTION 3. Section 545.457, Transportation Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.