85R17012 AAF-F     By: Morrison H.B. No. 3087       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the definitions of highway maintenance and service   vehicles for purposes of certain provisions governing vehicle   equipment.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 547.001, Transportation Code, is amended   by adding Subdivisions (2-b) and (6-a) to read as follows:                (2-b)  "Highway maintenance vehicle" means a highway or   traffic maintenance vehicle designated by the Texas Department of   Transportation. The term includes equipment for:                      (A)  road maintenance, including:                            (i)  equipment for snow removal, line   striping, skid resistance testing, sweeping, and spraying;                            (ii)  aerial platform lift machines; and                            (iii)  road profiler machines; and                      (B)  off-road use, including motor graders, road   rollers, excavators, pneumatic tire equipment, movers, and   tractors.                (6-a)  "Service vehicle" means a highway or traffic   maintenance vehicle that:                      (A)  is owned and operated on a highway by or for a   governmental agency and performs a function requiring the use of a   lamp or illuminating device in accordance with the standards and   specifications adopted under Section 547.105; or                      (B)  has a public service function, including   public utility vehicles, tow trucks, and any vehicle designated as   a service vehicle by the Texas Department of Transportation or as an   escort flag vehicle under Section 623.099.          SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 547.105, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 547.105.  MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE VEHICLE [EQUIPMENT]   LIGHTING STANDARDS.          SECTION 3.  Sections 547.105(a) and (b), Transportation   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The Texas Department of Transportation shall adopt   standards and specifications that:                (1)  apply to lamps on highway maintenance and service   vehicles [equipment, including snow-removal equipment]; and                (2)  correlate with and conform as closely as possible   to standards and specifications approved by the American   Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.          (b)  The Texas Department of Transportation may adopt   standards and specifications for lighting that permit the use of   flashing lights for identification purposes on highway maintenance   and service vehicles [equipment, including snow-removal   equipment].          SECTION 4.  Section 547.305(e), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (e)  A person may not operate a highway maintenance or   service vehicle [equipment, including snow-removal equipment,]   that is not equipped with lamps or that does not display lighted   lamps as required by the standards and specifications adopted by   the Texas Department of Transportation.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.