BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 914

By: Hernandez

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns surrounding the authority given to a municipality with respect to the removal and storage of certain abandoned or illegally parked or operated vehicles. One such concern centers on procedures requiring notification to the police department in order to initiate a tow. It is suggested that such a requirement is inefficient with respect to the removal of abandoned vehicles or for the illegal operation of vehicles for hire. H.B. 914 seeks to address this concern by providing for the authorization of designated municipal employees to request the towing and storage of vehicles under certain circumstances, including vehicles for hire operated in violation of certain municipal requirements.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 914 amends the Occupations Code to provide for the authority of designated municipal employees to request the removal and storage of a vehicle that is located in an area where on‑street parking is regulated by ordinance and that is parked illegally or that is parked legally, has been unattended for more than 48 hours, and is reasonably believed to be abandoned.

H.B. 914 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality to authorize a designated employee to request the removal of a vehicle for hire that is in violation of a municipal ordinance regulating the operation of vehicles for hire, including a regulation imposed on transportation network companies that provide rides to or from an airport or cruise ship terminal. The bill authorizes a towing company to remove, and a vehicle storage facility to store, such a vehicle requested to be removed without authorization by a peace officer.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.