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


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 996
By: Coleman
Transportation
4/2/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



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.  C.S.H.B. 996 provides
municipalities the option to designate a municipal employee to remove
vehicles from public roadways in the municipality. 

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

C.S.H.B. 996 amends the Transportation Code to authorize an employee,
designated by a municipality, to aid in the enforcement of a municipal
ordinance regulating the parking of vehicles by immobilizing a vehicle
parked in the municipality or removing an immobilized vehicle from a public
roadway in the municipality. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 996 removes the provision in the original bill that authorized a
parking facility owner or towing company to remove a vehicle from a public
roadway under the direction of an employee of a municipality acting under a
municipal parking ordinance.