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Senate Bill 1154 |
Senate Author: Carona |
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Effective: 9-1-07 |
House Sponsor: Phillips |
Senate Bill 1154 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to establish a statewide electronic reporting system to track the sales of regulated metal and to issue certificates of registration to qualified applicants. The bill prohibits a person from acting as, or representing the person to be, a metal recycling entity without the appropriate certificate of registration. The bill sets forth, among other provisions, processes, registration and certification procedures, and fee guidelines for the DPS to follow when establishing the program. The bill also sets forth sanctions, penalties, and provisions for enforcement. The bill requires the Public Safety Commission to prescribe fees to cover the costs of administering the law but prohibits the commission from imposing a certificate of registration fee that exceeds $250 annually. The bill also requires the DPS to submit an annual report to the legislature regarding certain aspects of the registration program and a one-time report concerning the costs incurred by the DPS in administering these provisions, with that report due no later than March 1, 2008. The bill also defines "regulated metal," among other terms, and provides for more stringent local regulation of metal recycling entities.