HBA-BSM H.B. 651 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 651 By: King, Phil Agriculture & Livestock 7/25/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE State law prohibits the operator of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) from driving on a public street, road, or highway except under certain circumstances. This restriction limits the effectiveness of these vehicles for use by farmers and ranchers for work purposes, since such ATV users often travel short distances on public roadways to move from one property to another. House Bill 651 authorizes the operator of an ATV to travel on a public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or limited-access highway if the transportation is associated with agricultural work. 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 651 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the operator of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to drive on a public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or limited-access highway if the ATV is properly flagged, the operator is using the vehicle for agricultural purposes, the vehicle's headlights and taillights are illuminated, the driver has a driver's license, the operation of the ATV occurs in the daytime, and the operation of the ATV does not exceed a distance of 25 miles from the point of origin to the destination. The bill requires the director of the Department of Public Safety to adopt standards and specifications that apply to the color, size, and mounting position of the flag that is required to be attached to such an ATV. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.