| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the regulation of certain contract carriers and |
|
|
subcontractors of contract carriers. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 644.054, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(a) In this section, "contract carrier" includes a |
|
|
subcontractor of a contract carrier. |
|
|
(a-1) This section applies only to a contract carrier that |
|
|
transports an operating employee of a railroad on a road or highway |
|
|
of this state in a vehicle designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers. |
|
|
(b) The department shall adopt rules regulating the |
|
|
operation of a contract carrier to which this section applies. The |
|
|
rules must: |
|
|
(1) prohibit a person from operating a vehicle for |
|
|
more than 12 hours in a day; |
|
|
(2) require a person who operates a vehicle for the |
|
|
number of consecutive hours or days the department determines is |
|
|
excessive to rest for a period determined by the department; |
|
|
(3) require a contract carrier to keep a record of all |
|
|
hours a vehicle subject to regulation under this section is |
|
|
operated; |
|
|
(4) require a contract carrier to perform alcohol and |
|
|
drug testing of vehicle operators on employment, on suspicion of |
|
|
alcohol or drug abuse, and periodically as determined by the |
|
|
department; |
|
|
(5) require a contract carrier, at a minimum, to |
|
|
maintain commercial automobile liability insurance in the amount of |
|
|
$3 [$1.5] million for each vehicle; and |
|
|
(6) be determined by the department to be necessary to |
|
|
protect the safety of a passenger being transported or the general |
|
|
public. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |