HBA-DMH H.B. 1378 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1378 By: McReynolds Transportation 2/27/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, motorized mobility devices used by persons with disabilities are classified as motor vehicles. As such, all persons using a wheelchair or scooter are technically required to register with the state and have a license to operate these devices. This classification also prevents motorized mobility devices from being lawfully operated on sidewalks. House Bill 1378 exempts the owner of a motorized mobility device from vehicle registration requirements. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1378 amends the Transportation Code to provide that the owner of a motorized mobility device (device) that is designed for the transportation of a person with physical disabilities is not required to register the device as a motor vehicle. A person operating a device or nonmotorized wheelchair is considered to be a pedestrian. The bill prohibits a pedestrian from walking along and on a roadway if an adjacent sidewalk is provided and is accessible to the pedestrian. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.