HBA-ALS C.S.H.B. 3014 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 3014
By: Hawley
Transportation
4/6/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

There are concerns regarding the efficiency and security of the current
system of automobile registration used by the Texas Department of
Transportation. Other states have implemented automated vehicle
registration systems, which has greatly decreased the incidence of fraud
and theft. Such automated services are able to provide 24-hour customer
service, scan and verify insurance certificates, accept various methods of
payment, and print directly on the registration insignia specific
information regarding the vehicle. 

C.S.H.B. 3014 allows TxDOT to collect an additional $1 fee for a license
plate or other device used as the registration insignia which may be used
to enhance its automated registration and title system. This bill requires
TxDOT to adopt rules providing for the use of an automated registration
process. In addition, this bill only applies in a county that has
implemented TxDOT's automated system. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority previously delegated to the Texas Department of Transportation is
modified in SECTION 2 (Section 502.180, Transportation Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.1705, as follows: 

Sec. 502.1705. ADDITIONAL FEE FOR AUTOMATED REGISTRATION AND TITLE SYSTEM.
Requires the collection of $1 fee, to be used by the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) to enhance its automated registration and title
system, provide for the automated on-site production of registration
insignia, and provide for the automated onpremises and off-premises
self-service registration. Provides that this section only applies in a
county in which TxDOT's automated registration and title system has been
implemented. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 502.180(e), Transportation Code, to require TxDOT
to adopt rules for the issuance and use of license plates and registration
insignia issued pursuant to this chapter that provide for the use of a
specified automated registration process. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 502.184(a) and (i), Transportation Code, to make
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 4.Effective date: September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 5.Emergency clause. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute modifies the original in SECTION 1 (proposed Section
502.1705, Transportation Code) by adding Subsection (c) to provide that
this section only applies in a county in which the Texas Department of
Transportation's automated registration and title system has been
implemented.