1145oa

    On the printed bill, delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

"    Section 1. That § 31-5-21 be amended to read:

    31-5-21. If a person owns real property abutting any highway on the state trunk highway system except an interstate highway, that person may, at any time, mow the first twenty feet of the right-of-way adjacent to the shoulder of the roadway and paralleling the person's real property.The Transportation Commission may, by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26, authorize provide for the mowing of ditches on along the state trunk highway system, under other circumstances.

    The rules shall authorized by this section may establish when mowing may be done, by whom the mowing may be done, how and where the mowing may be done, and the time limit for the removal of hay if mowing is done for hay production. However, the

    The rules shall provide that the original owner or assigns of land of real property abutting the ditches on the state trunk highway system shall be given priority over other bidders for contract mowing of the area adjacent to their property. "