HBA-MSH C.S.H.B. 2124 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2124
By: Noriega
Transportation
3/26/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas uses a single procedure to register all vehicles in the state.
Annually, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) mails a
registration renewal form to the owner of each vehicle.  Some  businesses
have a large number of vehicles, and receive a renewal notice for each
vehicle which must be received, completed, and mailed back, creating a
large amount of paperwork for the business as well as for the state.
C.S.H.B. 2124 creates a consolidated registration system for vehicles in a
fleet. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Transportation
in SECTION 1 (Section 502.0022, Transportation Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2124 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation 
(TxDOT) to develop and implement a system of registration so that an owner
of a fleet of motor vehicles (owner) may consolidate the registration of
the vehicles in that fleet as an alternative to the separate registration
of each motor vehicle in the fleet.  The bill provides that a system of
consolidated registration must allow an owner to register an entire fleet
of motor vehicles in the county of the owner's residence or principal place
of business, or to register those vehicles in a fleet of vehicles that are
operated most regularly in the same county by registering the vehicles in
that county.  The bill requires TxDOT to define by rule "fleet" for these
purposes.  The bill authorizes TxDOT to adopt rules to administer the
consolidated registration system. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2124 differs from the original by specifically requiring the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to develop and implement a
consolidated registration system and setting forth registration
requirements under the system.  The substitute grants rulemaking authority
to TxDOT to administer the consolidated registration system.