Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2616 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.B. No. 2616
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to the operation of and lighting equipment for medical
6	6	examiner vehicles and vehicles operated by justices of the peace in
7	7	certain circumstances.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 545.156, Transportation Code, is amended
10	10	to read as follows:
11	11	Sec. 545.156. VEHICLE APPROACHED BY AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY
12	12	VEHICLE. (a) This section applies only to:
13	13	(1) [On the immediate approach of] an authorized
14	14	emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the
15	15	requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702;
16	16	(2) a medical examiner vehicle, as defined by Section
17	17	547.751, lawfully using a visual signal in accordance with that
18	18	section;
19	19	(3) a vehicle operated by a justice of the peace for a
20	20	purpose described by Section 547.752 and lawfully using a visual
21	21	signal in accordance with that section; and
22	22	(4) [, or of] a police vehicle lawfully using only an
23	23	audible or visual signal.
24	24	(a-1) On the immediate approach of a vehicle described by
25	25	Subsection (a), an operator, unless otherwise directed by a police
26	26	officer, shall:
27	27	(1) yield the right-of-way;
28	28	(2) immediately drive to a position parallel to and as
29	29	close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway
30	30	clear of any intersection; and
31	31	(3) stop and remain standing until the authorized
32	32	emergency vehicle has passed.
33	33	(b) This section does not exempt the operator of a [an
34	34	authorized emergency] vehicle described by Subsection (a) from the
35	35	duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using
36	36	the highway.
37	37	SECTION 2. Chapter 547, Transportation Code, is amended by
38	38	adding Subchapter L-1 to read as follows:
39	39	SUBCHAPTER L-1. ADDITIONAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZED FOR
40	40	MEDICAL EXAMINER VEHICLES AND VEHICLES OPERATED BY JUSTICES OF THE
41	41	PEACE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
42	42	Sec. 547.751. ADDITIONAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZED FOR
43	43	MEDICAL EXAMINER VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "medical examiner
44	44	vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is owned or leased by a
45	45	governmental entity for use by a medical examiner or an employee of
46	46	an office of a medical examiner in the performance of the examiner's
47	47	or employee's duties relating to an inquest conducted under
48	48	Subchapter B, Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure.
49	49	(b) A medical examiner vehicle may be equipped with either:
50	50	(1) mounted signal lamps that comply with the
51	51	requirements of Section 547.702(c); or
52	52	(2) a signal lamp that is temporarily attached to the
53	53	vehicle roof and flashes red and blue lights visible at a distance
54	54	of at least 500 feet in normal sunlight.
55	55	(c) The operator of a medical examiner vehicle may use the
56	56	lighting equipment described by Subsection (b) only when:
57	57	(1) necessary to warn other vehicle operators or
58	58	pedestrians of the approach of the medical examiner vehicle; and
59	59	(2) operating the vehicle in the course and scope of
60	60	the operator's duties relating to an inquest conducted under
61	61	Subchapter B, Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure.
62	62	Sec. 547.752. ADDITIONAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZED FOR
63	63	VEHICLES OPERATED BY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN CERTAIN
64	64	CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) A vehicle operated by a justice of the peace in
65	65	the course and scope of the justice's duties as a coroner under
66	66	Subchapter A, Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure, may be
67	67	equipped with either:
68	68	(1) mounted signal lamps that comply with the
69	69	requirements of Section 547.702(c); or
70	70	(2) a signal lamp that is temporarily attached to the
71	71	vehicle roof and flashes red and blue lights visible at a distance
72	72	of at least 500 feet in normal sunlight.
73	73	(b) A justice of the peace may use the lighting equipment
74	74	described by Subsection (a) only when:
75	75	(1) necessary to warn other vehicle operators or
76	76	pedestrians of the approach of a vehicle operated by a justice of
77	77	the peace; and
78	78	(2) operating the vehicle in the course and scope of
79	79	the justice's duties relating to an inquest conducted under
80	80	Subchapter A, Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure.
81	81	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
82	82	______________________________ ______________________________
83	83	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
84	84	I certify that H.B. No. 2616 was passed by the House on May 5,
85	85	2023, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 2, 2 present, not
86	86	voting.
87	87	______________________________
88	88	Chief Clerk of the House
89	89	I certify that H.B. No. 2616 was passed by the Senate on May
90	90	21, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
91	91	______________________________
92	92	Secretary of the Senate
93	93	APPROVED: _____________________
94	94	Date
95	95	_____________________
96	96	Governor