HBA-BSM C.S.H.B. 651 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 651 By: King, Phil Agriculture & Livestock 3/14/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law prohibits the operator of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) from driving on a public street, road, or highway. This restriction limits the effectiveness of these vehicles for farmers and ranchers to use for work purposes, since such ATV users often travel short distances on public roadways to move from one property to another. C.S.H.B. 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 C.S.H.B. 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, and the driver has a driver's license. 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. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 651 differs from the original by adding the provision that an ATV driver hold a driver's license if the vehicle is to be used on a public street, road, or highway under these provisions.