| 1 | 1 | | 86R5004 BEE-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Watson S.B. No. 1135 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the operation of public transit vehicles equipped with |
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| 8 | 8 | | connected braking systems. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, |
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| 11 | 11 | | is amended by adding Section 545.0621 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 545.0621. FOLLOWING DISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC |
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| 13 | 13 | | TRANSIT VEHICLES. (a) In this section: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) "Automated motor vehicle" has the meaning assigned |
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| 15 | 15 | | by Section 545.451. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (2) "Connected braking system" has the meaning |
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| 17 | 17 | | assigned by Section 545.062(d). |
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| 18 | 18 | | (3) "Public transit vehicle" means a bus or other |
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| 19 | 19 | | vehicle, including an automated motor vehicle, used to provide |
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| 20 | 20 | | transit services to the public by: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (A) a political subdivision of this state; or |
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| 22 | 22 | | (B) a private entity operating under a contract |
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| 23 | 23 | | with a political subdivision of this state. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (b) Sections 545.062(b), (c), and (d) do not apply to an |
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| 25 | 25 | | operator of a public transit vehicle that is following one or more |
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| 26 | 26 | | other public transit vehicles if: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (1) the vehicles are equipped with a connected braking |
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| 28 | 28 | | system; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (2) the speed of each vehicle is automatically |
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| 30 | 30 | | coordinated through the connected braking system. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, |
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| 32 | 32 | | is amended by adding Section 545.457 to read as follows: |
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| 33 | 33 | | Sec. 545.457. FOLLOWING DISTANCE FOR CERTAIN AUTOMATED |
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| 34 | 34 | | MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) In this section: |
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| 35 | 35 | | (1) "Connected braking system" has the meaning |
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| 36 | 36 | | assigned by Section 545.062(d). |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) "Public transit vehicle" has the meaning assigned |
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| 38 | 38 | | by Section 545.0621. |
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| 39 | 39 | | (b) This section applies only to an automated motor vehicle |
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| 40 | 40 | | that is a public transit vehicle. |
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| 41 | 41 | | (c) Notwithstanding Section 545.062, an automated motor |
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| 42 | 42 | | vehicle equipped with a connected braking system that is following |
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| 43 | 43 | | another automated motor vehicle equipped with that system may be |
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| 44 | 44 | | assisted by the system to maintain any desired distance between the |
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| 45 | 45 | | vehicles. |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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