BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1367

By: Israel

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law has presented logistical challenges for disaster relief organizations. Certain vehicles that are currently used exclusively for emergencies by a nonprofit disaster relief organization are exempted from vehicle registration fees, but these vehicles may not be used to carry out necessary day-to-day duties or activities in preparation for an emergency, such as training and transportation of disaster relief supplies. To be in compliance with current law, these organizations must use certain exempted vehicles for emergency response, yet switch to a non‑exempt vehicle to conduct any other disaster relief-related activity. H.B. 1367 exempts a vehicle owned by a nonprofit disaster relief organization from a registration fee if the vehicle is used exclusively for certain activities related to disaster relief in order to streamline operations and alleviate logistical burdens currently placed on these organizations.

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. 1367 amends the Transportation Code to exempt from vehicle registration fees a vehicle owned by a nonprofit disaster relief organization and used by the organization exclusively for training, equipment maintenance, transportation of disaster relief supplies, or other activities related to disaster relief.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.