SEPTEMBER 1 Law

About 650 statutes that were passed by the legislature went into effect on September 1st. I’m not one to say that’s a little nuts but I guess I’m trying to say, "that’s a little nuts." All these laws that went into effect are going to affect just about every Texan you come across from now until you die, from Texans that own guns, cars and dogs to folks raising kids, praying or enjoying a beer or ten. Some of the laws are in good manner and might save you a dime or two but some of them are for someone in a higher social status than my own. In summary this is what I’ve gotten out of all the madness:

Laws for dogs

House Bill 1355 requires dog owners to secure their pets on their property even if their dogs have never been declared dangerous. Dog owners can be held criminally responsible if the dog causes serious bodily injury or death away from the owner's property in an unprovoked attack and if the owner failed to secure the dog. Some lady in Dallas just barely snuck by this law when her son was killed Aug 31st. Related story

House Bill 916 makes operating a dogfight a state jail felony and subjects spectators to prosecution for a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in county jail. Thank NFL not so super star, Vick for this one. Related Story

New rules for the road

House Bill 586 disqualifies drivers found guilty of speeding faster than 95 mph from taking a driver safety class to have the ticket dismissed.

Senate Bill 153 makes it illegal for a licensed driver supervising someone with a learner's permit to be intoxicated or to fall asleep.

Senate Bill 502 increases the minimum automobile liability coverage for policies initiated or renewed after April 1 to $25,000 for injury or death in an accident, $50,000 for injury or death to two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage.

House Bill 8 requires drivers 85 and older to pass a vision test for license renewal. Story

Senate Bill 1315 requires the Department of Public Safety's alert system to notify the public when an elderly person goes missing. Related Story

Guns and safety

SB112 (effective April 27, 2007) protects the right to bear arms during a declared disaster or emergency by prohibiting law enforcement officers from confiscating firearms during such emergency periods.

Senate Bill 378 (CASTLE DOCTRINE) removes the requirement that a property owner retreat first before resorting to deadly force against an intruder.

House Bill 991 makes DPS records on who holds concealed-handgun permits exempt from state open-records laws.

Senate Bill 11 allows wiretap orders to be issued for suspects in offenses such as kidnapping and unlawful restraint, human trafficking and money laundering.

Doctors Orders

Senate Bill 1724 requires transparency in medical billing. Texans now have the right to know how much a doctor's visit costs and doctor's will now be required to tell them their bills within 30 days after the patient has requested it in writing.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH: As part of the state budget, more than 100,000 additional children could be added to the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Too bad Commander in Chief Bush decided to cut CHIP down to five million bucks. How many children do you suppose are going to fall through the cracks of the system?

Misc. Bills

MARIJUANA: Police will have discretion to issue citations instead of arresting those in possession of four ounces or less of marijuana. The offender must live in the county where they are stopped and must not be considered a threat to public safety.

This is a complete list of all Bills passed Sep 1st 2007. Texas law