HBA-TBM H.B. 489 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 489 By: Pickett County Affairs 7/3/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, a vehicle may have been considered junked if it did not have either a lawfully attached unexpired license plate or a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate or it was either wrecked or inoperable. House Bill 489 requires the vehicle to lack an unexpired license plate or a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate and also to be wrecked or inoperable to be considered a junked vehicle. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 489 amends the Transportation Code to alter the definition of "junked vehicle" to provide that a vehicle is considered a junked vehicle if it does not have an unexpired license plate or a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate lawfully attached to it, and is wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, or discarded, or is inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than 72 consecutive hours on public property or 30 consecutive days on private property. A junked vehicle that is declared to be a public nuisance is subject to abatement procedures. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.