BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1693

By: Shaheen

Insurance

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the difficulty encountered by courts when attempting to verify motor vehicle liability insurance coverage for related citations through insurance companies. It has been suggested that court access to the financial responsibility verification program would provide for a more efficient referral process for these citations, saving courts and motorists time and money. H.B. 1693 seeks to address this issue by granting justice and municipal courts access to the program for certain purposes.

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. 1693 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a justice or municipal court to access the financial responsibility verification program established under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act to verify financial responsibility for the purpose of court proceedings. The costs associated with accessing the verification program must be paid out of the county treasury by order of the commissioners court or out of the municipal treasury by order of the governing body of the municipality, as applicable.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.