HBA-ALS H.B. 2996 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2996 By: Culberson Transportation 4/24/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently a person may tow an unauthorized vehicle from a parking facility without the owner's consent and may attach a boot to the vehicle without the posting any of notice to that effect. H.B. 2996 prevents a person, other than a governmental entity, from removing an unauthorized vehicle from a parking facility without the consent of the vehicle's owner or operator. This bill also prohibits a person from attaching a device to prevent the operation of such a vehicle without the proper posting on the parking facility of a notice warning of such a possibility. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 684, Transportation Code, by adding Section 684.016, as follows: Sec. 684.016. ADDITIONAL PROHIBITIONS. (a) Prohibits a person from removing an unauthorized vehicle from a parking facility without the consent of the vehicle's owner or operator or attaching to an unauthorized vehicle on a parking facility a device to prevent the operation of the vehicle, unless the person is a governmental entity or is acting as authorized by a contract with a governmental entity. (b) Prohibits a person from attaching to an unauthorized vehicle on a parking facility a device to prevent the operation of the vehicle, unless a sign is installed on the parking facility that states that such a device may be attached to an unauthorized vehicle located on the facility. Provides that the sign must be installed in each location required for a sign under Section 684.031(a) (General Requirements for Sign Prohibiting Unauthorized Vehicles), 684.034 (Designation of Restricted Parking Spaces on Otherwise Unrestricted Parking Facility), or 684.035 (Individual Parking Restrictions in Restricted Area), as appropriate. Authorizes the sign to be installed on the same pole, post, wall, or barrier as a sign under Subchapter C (Signs Prohibiting Unauthorized Vehicles and Designating Restricted Areas). SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4.Emergency clause.