Bill Text: TX HB1654 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a commission to study drowsy driving.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-20 - Left pending in committee [HB1654 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB1654-Introduced.html
| 82R9359 CJC-D | ||
| By: Castro | H.B. No. 1654 | |
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| relating to the creation of a commission to study drowsy driving. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. (a) The Drowsy Driving Study Commission is | ||
| created to study the effect of drowsy driving on highway safety. | ||
| The commission shall: | ||
| (1) study the effects of sleep deprivation on persons | ||
| operating a motor vehicle on public roadways; | ||
| (2) determine scientific and legal standards to be | ||
| applied by law enforcement officials and the court system in | ||
| determining whether a driver is operating a motor vehicle while | ||
| sleep deprived; | ||
| (3) suggest appropriate sanctions for operating a | ||
| motor vehicle while sleep deprived; and | ||
| (4) develop programs to: | ||
| (A) educate drivers about the effects of driving | ||
| while sleep deprived; and | ||
| (B) train law enforcement officials to recognize | ||
| the symptoms of sleep deprivation. | ||
| (b) The commission is composed of seven members as follows: | ||
| (1) one member of the house of representatives, | ||
| appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; | ||
| (2) one member of the senate, appointed by the | ||
| lieutenant governor; and | ||
| (3) five members appointed by the governor, of which: | ||
| (A) one is a member of the academic or medical | ||
| community with expertise in sleep deprivation research; | ||
| (B) one is a representative of the Texas | ||
| Department of Transportation; | ||
| (C) one is a representative of the Department of | ||
| Public Safety; | ||
| (D) one is a representative of the Texas | ||
| Transportation Institute; and | ||
| (E) one is a member of the public. | ||
| (c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall select | ||
| one member of the commission to serve as chair of the commission. | ||
| (d) A member of the commission is not entitled to | ||
| reimbursement of expenses or to compensation. | ||
| (e) The commission may accept gifts and grants from any | ||
| source to be used to carry out a function of the commission. | ||
| (f) On the commission's request, the comptroller or any | ||
| other state agency, department, or office shall provide any | ||
| assistance the commission needs to perform the commission's duties. | ||
| (g) Not later than July 1, 2012, the commission shall issue | ||
| a report summarizing: | ||
| (1) the commission's findings and recommendations; | ||
| (2) any legislation proposed by the commission; and | ||
| (3) any administrative recommendations proposed by | ||
| the commission. | ||
| (h) The commission shall promptly deliver copies of the | ||
| report, and drafts of any proposed legislation and administrative | ||
| recommendations necessary to implement the commission's findings, | ||
| to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of | ||
| representatives. | ||
| SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2011, the governor, | ||
| lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives | ||
| shall appoint the members to the Drowsy Driving Study Commission | ||
| established under Section 1 of this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act expires and the Drowsy Driving Study | ||
| Commission is abolished on January 1, 2013. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. | ||
