87R2963 BEE-F     By: Goodwin H.B. No. 795       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the designation of highway safety corridors; increasing   a fine.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 201.905(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  A program under this section may also include literature   distributed to the public by the department concerning:                (1)  the program established under this section; and                (2)  highway safety corridors designated under Section   201.9051.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter K, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 201.9051 to read as follows:          Sec. 201.9051.  HIGHWAY SAFETY CORRIDOR. (a) The   department shall designate as a highway safety corridor a portion   of a roadway containing:                (1)  a site described by Section 201.905, regardless of   whether the department has established the program under that   section; or                (2)  a site with a high number of traffic fatalities, as   identified by the governing body of the municipality or county in   whose jurisdiction the site is located.          (b)  The department shall erect a sign at each end of the   highway safety corridor and at appropriate intermediate sites along   the corridor:                (1)  indicating that it is a highway safety corridor;   and                (2)  stating "Fines double: highway safety corridor."          (c)  The department may include on the same sign the   information required for:                (1)  a highway safety corridor under this section; and                (2)  a traffic safety sign under Section 201.905(a).          (d)  The commission by rule shall establish processes for the   governing body of a municipality or county to:                (1)  identify sites with high numbers of traffic   fatalities; and                (2)  inform the department of sites identified under   Subdivision (1) for designation as a highway safety corridor.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 542, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 542.4046 to read as follows:          Sec. 542.4046.  FINE FOR OFFENSE IN HIGHWAY SAFETY CORRIDOR.   (a)  In this section, "highway safety corridor" means a portion of a   roadway designated by the department in accordance with Section   201.9051.          (b)  If an offense under this subtitle, other than an offense   under Chapter 548 or 552 or Section 545.412 or 545.413, is committed   in a highway safety corridor:                (1)  the minimum fine applicable to the offense is   twice the minimum fine that would be applicable to the offense if it   were committed outside a highway safety corridor; and                (2)  the maximum fine applicable to the offense is   twice the maximum fine that would be applicable to the offense if it   were committed outside a highway safety corridor.          SECTION 4.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Texas Department of Transportation by rule shall   establish the processes required by Section 201.9051(d),   Transportation Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 5.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.   An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is   covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date   of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed   before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense   was committed before that date.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.