HBA-JEK H.B. 996 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 996
By: Coleman
Transportation
2/27/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law prohibits a parking facility owner or towing company from
removing a vehicle from a public roadway unless such a removal is directed
by a peace officer or the owner or operator of the vehicle. Under this
arrangement, a vehicle in the street that is immobilized by a wheel boot
can hinder traffic until an officer is called to authorize the vehicle's
removal.  An officer's time could be spent on other duties if the officer
is not required to oversee the towing of a vehicle.  House Bill 996
provides municipalities the option to authorize the towing of a vehicle
from a public roadway under the direction of an appropriate municipal
employee. 

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 996 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a parking
facility owner or towing company to remove a vehicle from a public roadway
if done under the direction of an employee of a municipality acting under a
municipal ordinance that regulates the parking of vehicles, authorizes the
immobilization of vehicles on a public roadway in the municipality by an
appropriate employee of the municipality, and authorizes the removal of
those vehicles by an employee of the municipality. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.