74R9804 MI-D
By Whitmire S.B. No. 178
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 178:
By Chisum C.S.S.B. No. 178
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance
1-3 program.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to create the least
1-6 stringent vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program
1-7 possible that will attain 100 percent compliance with the federal
1-8 Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.).
1-9 SECTION 2. Sections 382.037(d) and (h), Health and Safety
1-10 Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-11 (d) On adoption of a resolution by the commission <board>
1-12 and after proper notice, the Texas Department of Transportation
1-13 shall implement a system that requires, as a condition of
1-14 registering a motor vehicle under Section 2, Chapter 88, General
1-15 Laws, Acts of the 41st Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1929
1-16 (Article 6675a-2, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), in a county that
1-17 is included in a vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance
1-18 program under Section 142, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on
1-19 Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), that the
1-20 vehicle, unless the vehicle is not covered by the system or is
1-21 being registered in conjunction with the vehicle's first sale as
1-22 that term is defined by Section 7, Certificate of Title Act
1-23 (Article 6687-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), be <annually or
1-24 biennially> inspected annually, biennially, or at some other
2-1 appropriate interval under the vehicle emissions inspection and
2-2 maintenance program as required by the Texas air quality state
2-3 implementation plan. The Texas Department of Transportation shall
2-4 implement such a system when it is required by any provision of
2-5 federal or state law, including any provision of the Texas air
2-6 quality state implementation plan. The commission <board> may
2-7 require or accept verification of compliance other than a vehicle
2-8 inspection certificate. The commission shall accept, instead of a
2-9 vehicle inspection certificate or an alternative verification of
2-10 compliance, proof of payment of a mitigation fee as provided by
2-11 Section 382.0371. The alternative verification of compliance or
2-12 proof of payment of a mitigation fee shall be in a form determined
2-13 through joint rule making by the commission <board> and the Texas
2-14 Department of Transportation.
2-15 (h) If the Texas Department of Transportation adopts a
2-16 system under Subsection (d), the department by rule shall<:>
2-17 <(1)> require, for a vehicle that is to be registered
2-18 in a county covered by a biennial emissions testing program, that
2-19 in an even-numbered year the owner of a vehicle of an even-numbered
2-20 model year, and in an odd-numbered year the owner of a vehicle of
2-21 an odd-numbered model year, submit to the department a valid
2-22 vehicle emissions inspection certificate, other verification of
2-23 compliance, or proof of payment of a mitigation fee issued for that
2-24 vehicle within 90 days preceding the date on which the person
2-25 applies for the registration<; and>
2-26 <(2) require the owner of a vehicle that is to be
2-27 registered in an area covered by an annual emissions testing
3-1 program to submit to the department a valid emissions inspection
3-2 certificate issued for that vehicle within 90 days preceding the
3-3 date on which the person applies for the registration>.
3-4 SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 382, Health and Safety
3-5 Code, is amended by adding Sections 382.0371-382.0374 to read as
3-6 follows:
3-7 Sec. 382.0371. HYBRID VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND
3-8 MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. (a) For purposes of obtaining a vehicle
3-9 emissions inspection certificate required as a condition of
3-10 registration in an affected county, a vehicle that is less than six
3-11 years old may be inspected at a decentralized test-and-repair
3-12 facility that is authorized and licensed by the commission to
3-13 conduct vehicle emissions inspections and that uses an approved
3-14 technology.
3-15 (b) For purposes of obtaining a vehicle emissions inspection
3-16 certificate required as a condition of registration in an affected
3-17 county, a vehicle that is six years old or older must be initially
3-18 inspected at a centralized inspection facility that is authorized
3-19 and licensed by the commission to conduct vehicle emissions
3-20 inspections and that uses an approved technology. If repair is
3-21 necessary before a vehicle can qualify for a vehicle emissions
3-22 inspection certificate, the subsequent reinspection may be
3-23 conducted at a decentralized test-and-repair facility that is
3-24 authorized and licensed by the commission to conduct vehicle
3-25 emissions inspections and that uses an approved technology. A
3-26 vehicle that fails the initial vehicle emissions inspection for two
3-27 consecutive inspection cycles must be reinspected at a centralized
4-1 testing facility after repairs.
4-2 (c) The commission may not grant a waiver of any sort for a
4-3 vehicle that fails a vehicle emissions inspection or for which a
4-4 mitigation fee has not been paid as provided by Subsection (d).
4-5 (d) A person may obtain an exemption from vehicle emissions
4-6 inspection requirements for a vehicle less than six years old by
4-7 submitting a $10 mitigation fee to the county tax
4-8 assessor-collector with the application for registration of the
4-9 vehicle each year of the biennial inspection cycle preceding the
4-10 inspection cycle for which the exemption is sought. The owner of a
4-11 rental vehicle less than six years old that is to be registered in
4-12 the county for part of a year only may obtain an exemption for that
4-13 vehicle under this subsection by paying a fee prorated for the part
4-14 of the year for which the vehicle is registered in the county. The
4-15 county tax assessor-collector shall issue to a person paying the
4-16 mitigation fee proof of payment in a form prescribed by the
4-17 commission. The county tax assessor-collector shall keep a
4-18 separate record of, and shall deposit in a separate account in the
4-19 county treasury, the mitigation fees collected under this section.
4-20 Except as provided by Section 382.0374, the county tax
4-21 assessor-collector each calendar quarter shall remit to the
4-22 comptroller mitigation fees collected for the preceding quarter.
4-23 The comptroller shall deposit the mitigation fees to the credit of
4-24 the clean air fund to be used for the purposes of that fund. If
4-25 the commission, the Public Safety Commission, and the Texas
4-26 Department of Transportation by joint rule develop the program
4-27 authorized by Subsection (i), a centralized inspection or
5-1 decentralized test-and-repair facility that renews vehicle
5-2 registrations shall collect, account for, and remit to the
5-3 comptroller the mitigation fees in the same manner as a county tax
5-4 assessor-collector, or shall remit the fees to the county clerk for
5-5 deposit to the appropriate fund if the county in which the facility
5-6 is located has implemented a vehicle repair assistance and
5-7 scrappage program authorized by Section 382.0374.
5-8 (e) The commission and the Texas Department of
5-9 Transportation by joint rule shall require vehicle emissions
5-10 inspection and certification or payment of a mitigation fee as
5-11 provided by Subsection (d) as a condition of registering a vehicle
5-12 if:
5-13 (1) the vehicle:
5-14 (A) is to be registered outside an affected
5-15 county; and
5-16 (B) will be driven inside the affected county
5-17 more than three times each week; or
5-18 (2) the vehicle:
5-19 (A) is a used vehicle;
5-20 (B) is to be registered in an affected county;
5-21 and
5-22 (C) was registered outside or was held
5-23 unregistered outside the affected county during the previous
5-24 registration year.
5-25 (f) The commission by rule may provide for the inspection
5-26 and repair of vehicles under the vehicle emissions inspection and
5-27 maintenance program by certified inspection or repair technicians
6-1 at testing or test-and-repair facilities licensed by the
6-2 commission.
6-3 (g) The commission may purchase or lease and use remote
6-4 sensing devices in an affected county to identify grossly emitting
6-5 vehicles in locations where those vehicles are likely to travel if
6-6 the purchase or lease and use of remote sensing devices will be
6-7 cost-effective in obtaining emissions reduction credits for the
6-8 state.
6-9 (h) The commission by rule shall set a uniform fee for
6-10 initial vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance testing in all
6-11 nonattainment areas. A centralized inspection facility or a
6-12 decentralized test-and-repair facility may not charge a fee for
6-13 reinspecting a vehicle that has failed the initial inspection and
6-14 has been repaired to bring the vehicle into compliance but may
6-15 charge a fee to reinspect a vehicle that has failed both the
6-16 initial inspection and the first post-repair reinspection.
6-17 (i) The commission, the Texas Department of Transportation,
6-18 and the Public Safety Commission by joint rule shall develop a
6-19 program to allow a centralized inspection facility or a
6-20 decentralized test-and-repair facility to renew vehicle
6-21 registrations and to perform safety inspections.
6-22 (j) The commission in implementing the vehicle emissions
6-23 inspection and maintenance program may not impose requirements more
6-24 stringent than federal requirements. The commission:
6-25 (1) by rule may exempt a county from the vehicle
6-26 emissions inspection and maintenance program if:
6-27 (A) the action is not prohibited by federal law
7-1 or regulation; and
7-2 (B) the commission determines that the county
7-3 will maintain full attainment credit and required emissions
7-4 reductions;
7-5 (2) by emergency rule may take any action necessary to
7-6 conform the state's vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance
7-7 program established under Section 382.037 and modified by Sections
7-8 382.0371-382.0374 or any similar clean air program to the most
7-9 flexible, effective, efficient, economical, and convenient method
7-10 or system compatible with and acceptable under federal law or
7-11 regulations or other federal guidelines or enforcement policies;
7-12 and
7-13 (3) by emergency rule shall adopt a decentralized
7-14 vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program if a
7-15 decentralized program is compatible with and acceptable under
7-16 federal law or regulations or other federal guidelines or
7-17 enforcement policies.
7-18 (k) In this section:
7-19 (1) "Affected county" means a county that is included
7-20 in a vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program under
7-21 Section 142, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article
7-22 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
7-23 (2) "Approved technology" means a technology certified
7-24 by the commission as capable of significantly contributing to the
7-25 achievement of the standards set in the state implementation plan.
7-26 (3) "Fleet vehicle" means a motor vehicle operated as
7-27 one of a group that consists of more than 10 motor vehicles and
8-1 that is owned and operated by a public or commercial entity or by a
8-2 private entity other than a single household.
8-3 (4) "Vehicle" includes a fleet vehicle.
8-4 Sec. 382.0372. HYBRID PROGRAM: TRANSITION PERIOD. (a)
8-5 From the effective date of this section until January 1, 1998, the
8-6 vehicle emissions inspection program established under Section
8-7 382.037 and modified by Sections 382.0371-382.0374 applies and may
8-8 be operated and implemented only as provided by this section.
8-9 (b) Beginning May 2, 1995, and except as provided by
8-10 Subsections (d) and (e) or by commission rule adopted under Section
8-11 382.0371(j)(1), the program applies to all fleet vehicles in
8-12 Tarrant, Dallas, Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend,
8-13 Montgomery, and El Paso counties.
8-14 (c) Beginning June 1, 1995, and except as provided by
8-15 Subsections (d) and (e) or by commission rule adopted under Section
8-16 382.0371(j)(1), the program applies to all vehicles in Tarrant,
8-17 Dallas, Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and El
8-18 Paso counties.
8-19 (d) Until January 1, 1996, a decentralized test-and-repair
8-20 facility in Tarrant or Dallas County may perform vehicle emissions
8-21 inspections using BAR90 technology.
8-22 (e) Until January 1, 1996, a decentralized test-and-repair
8-23 facility in El Paso County may perform vehicle emissions
8-24 inspections using BAR84 technology.
8-25 (f) Beginning January 1, 1996, the program applies in
8-26 Jefferson, Orange, Collin, and Denton counties.
8-27 Sec. 382.0373. VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
9-1 ADVISORY PANEL. (a) The vehicle emissions inspection and
9-2 maintenance advisory panel consists of nine members, one member
9-3 appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the lieutenant
9-4 governor, and one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
9-5 representatives from each of the following groups:
9-6 (1) the automotive repair industry;
9-7 (2) the public; and
9-8 (3) locally affected governments.
9-9 (b) A member of the advisory panel serves at the will of the
9-10 officer who appointed the member.
9-11 (c) The governor shall appoint the chairman of the advisory
9-12 panel.
9-13 (d) The advisory panel shall meet quarterly and at the call
9-14 of the chairman or of a majority of the members.
9-15 (e) The advisory panel shall review federal requirements
9-16 relating to the vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance
9-17 program, agency rules adopted in this state relating to that
9-18 program, and the implementation of similar programs by other states
9-19 and shall inform and advise the commission regarding those
9-20 requirements, possible alternative compliance methods, and the
9-21 effects of compliance on the groups represented by the advisory
9-22 panel.
9-23 (f) A member of the advisory panel is entitled to
9-24 compensation and reimbursement of the member's travel expenses as
9-25 provided in the General Appropriations Act. Payments under this
9-26 subsection must be made from existing commission funds.
9-27 (g) The advisory panel is not subject to Article 6252-33,
10-1 Revised Statutes.
10-2 Sec. 382.0374. VEHICLE REPAIR ASSISTANCE AND SCRAPPAGE
10-3 PROGRAM. (a) The commission, the Texas Department of
10-4 Transportation, and the Public Safety Commission by joint rule
10-5 shall authorize the implementation of a vehicle repair assistance
10-6 and scrappage program by the commissioners court of an affected
10-7 county, subject to appropriate agency oversight that may include
10-8 reasonable periodic commission audits.
10-9 (b) The commission shall adopt guidelines to assist a county
10-10 in implementing a program under this section. The guidelines at a
10-11 minimum shall recommend:
10-12 (1) the minimum and maximum amounts for repair
10-13 assistance or for the scrappage purchase price of a qualified
10-14 vehicle; and
10-15 (2) criteria for determining eligibility for repair
10-16 assistance, taking into account the vehicle owner's income, the
10-17 fair market value of the vehicle, and any other relevant
10-18 considerations.
10-19 (c) A participating county shall retain in a separate
10-20 account the mitigation fees collected under Section 382.0371(d).
10-21 The county may use money in the account, including accrued
10-22 interest, only for administering and implementing the county's
10-23 vehicle repair assistance and scrappage program. If a
10-24 participating county's program is discontinued by the county or by
10-25 the state, the county may retain in the account the unexpended and
10-26 unobligated balance of mitigation fees collected before the program
10-27 was discontinued for use only in clean air programs. If money in a
11-1 participating county's account is depleted, the county is not
11-2 required to provide other county funds to operate the program.
11-3 (d) A participating county may contract with any appropriate
11-4 entity or with another county for services necessary to implement
11-5 the county's program. A participating county may pool mitigation
11-6 fees with another participating county for purposes of implementing
11-7 the program.
11-8 (e) A participating county may appoint a local advisory
11-9 panel consisting of representatives of automobile dealerships, the
11-10 automotive repair industry, the public, and locally affected
11-11 governments to advise the county regarding the operation of the
11-12 county's program.
11-13 (f) A fleet vehicle, a vehicle owned or leased by a
11-14 governmental entity, or a commercial vehicle is not eligible for
11-15 repair assistance or scrappage purchase under a program implemented
11-16 under this section.
11-17 (g) A private commercial or business entity may participate
11-18 in a vehicle repair assistance and scrappage program in accordance
11-19 with commission rules. The commission shall adopt rules under this
11-20 subsection that provide at a minimum for:
11-21 (1) the assignment of emissions reduction credit to a
11-22 private commercial or business entity that purchases for scrappage
11-23 a qualified vehicle under a vehicle repair assistance and scrappage
11-24 program;
11-25 (2) the transferability of an assigned emissions
11-26 reduction credit; and
11-27 (3) the use of the emissions reduction credit by the
12-1 holder of the credit against any emissions requirements of a
12-2 facility owned or operated by the holder of the credit.
12-3 (h) A vehicle purchased under a vehicle repair assistance
12-4 and scrappage program authorized by this section may not be resold
12-5 or reused and must be destroyed.
12-6 (i) In this section:
12-7 (1) "Affected county," "fleet vehicle," and "vehicle"
12-8 have the meanings assigned by Section 382.0371.
12-9 (2) "Commercial vehicle" means a vehicle that is owned
12-10 or leased by and is used in the regular course of business of a
12-11 commercial or business entity.
12-12 SECTION 4. Section 2, Chapter 88, General Laws, Acts of the
12-13 41st Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1929 (Article 6675a-2,
12-14 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subsection
12-15 (a-2) and amending Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows:
12-16 (a-2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a), if
12-17 the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Public
12-18 Safety Commission, and the Texas Department of Transportation by
12-19 joint rule under Section 382.0371(i), Health and Safety Code,
12-20 develop a program to allow a centralized inspection facility or a
12-21 decentralized test-and-repair facility licensed by the Texas
12-22 Natural Resource Conservation Commission to renew vehicle
12-23 registrations and perform safety inspections, the Department may
12-24 appoint a centralized inspection or a decentralized test-and-repair
12-25 station licensed by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
12-26 Commission to perform the duties of a county tax assessor-collector
12-27 in registering vehicles in a county that is covered by a vehicle
13-1 emissions inspection and maintenance program.
13-2 (i) In implementing each system that requires a valid
13-3 vehicle emissions inspection certificate as a condition of
13-4 registering a vehicle in a county that is included in a vehicle
13-5 emissions inspection and maintenance program under Section 142,
13-6 Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's
13-7 Texas Civil Statutes), the Texas Department of Transportation
13-8 through the county tax collector in the county may not issue a
13-9 registration for a vehicle unless the vehicle emissions inspection
13-10 certificate for that vehicle issued by an inspection station
13-11 located in a county that is included in the vehicle emissions
13-12 inspection and maintenance program within the applicable period
13-13 required by Section 382.037(h), Health and Safety Code, <or> other
13-14 verification of compliance, as provided by Section 382.037, Health
13-15 and Safety Code, or payment or proof of payment of a mitigation fee
13-16 as provided by Section 382.0371, Health and Safety Code, is
13-17 submitted with the application for registration or renewal of
13-18 registration. The county tax collector, a deputy county tax
13-19 collector, or a person acting on behalf of the county tax collector
13-20 is not liable to any person for refusing to register a motor
13-21 vehicle because of the person's failure to submit the vehicle
13-22 emissions inspection certificate, <waiver, or> other verification
13-23 of compliance, or payment or proof of payment of a mitigation fee
13-24 or for registering a motor vehicle under this section.
13-25 (j)(1) A county tax collector covered by Subsection (i) of
13-26 this section shall collect the original emissions inspection
13-27 certificates<, waivers,> and other verifications of compliance and
14-1 on request of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
14-2 shall submit the certificates<, waivers,> and the other
14-3 verifications to the commission. The county tax collector also
14-4 shall collect the mitigation fees and handle the fees as prescribed
14-5 by Section 382.0371(d) or 382.0374(c), Health and Safety Code.
14-6 (2) Each county tax collector shall submit an annual
14-7 report to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and
14-8 the Texas Department of Transportation that shows:
14-9 (A) the number of registrations denied because
14-10 of the applicant's failure to provide proof of residency in the
14-11 county;
14-12 (B) the number of registrations denied because
14-13 of the applicant's failure to provide an original emissions
14-14 inspection certificate, other verification of compliance, or
14-15 payment or proof of payment of a mitigation fee <or a valid
14-16 waiver>; and
14-17 (C) an itemized accounting of the costs to the
14-18 county of administering this subsection and Subsections (a) and (i)
14-19 of this section.
14-20 SECTION 5. Section 3(j), Chapter 88, General Laws, Acts of
14-21 the 41st Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1929 (Article 6675a-3,
14-22 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
14-23 (j) In implementing each system that requires a valid
14-24 vehicle emissions inspection certificate as a condition of
14-25 registering a vehicle in a county that is included in a vehicle
14-26 emissions inspection and maintenance program under Section 142,
14-27 Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's
15-1 Texas Civil Statutes), the State Department of Highways and Public
15-2 Transportation shall require that the vehicle emissions inspection
15-3 certificate for that vehicle, <or> other verification of
15-4 compliance, as provided by Section 382.037(e), Health and Safety
15-5 Code, or payment or proof of payment of a mitigation fee as
15-6 provided by Section 382.0371, Health and Safety Code, be submitted
15-7 with an application for registration or renewal of registration.
15-8 SECTION 6. Section 141, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on
15-9 Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended
15-10 by amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as
15-11 follows:
15-12 (a-1) The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission may
15-13 authorize and license inspection stations as necessary to conduct
15-14 the emissions-related inspection <reinspection> requirements of the
15-15 vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program under Sections
15-16 142(d) and (d-1) of this Act. At the request of the Texas Natural
15-17 Resource Conservation Commission, the Department shall provide
15-18 inspection certificates for distribution and issuance at
15-19 centralized or decentralized inspection <reinspection> stations
15-20 licensed by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
15-21 The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall pay to the
15-22 Department an amount equal to the cost of producing the
15-23 certificates. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
15-24 shall establish a uniform initial inspection fee and a reinspection
15-25 fee as provided by Section 382.0371(h), Health and Safety Code, and
15-26 shall implement procedures governing tracking of certificates and
15-27 refunding the cost of unused certificates issued to inspection
16-1 <reinspection> facilities.
16-2 (a-2) If the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
16-3 the Public Safety Commission, and the Texas Department of
16-4 Transportation by joint rule under Section 382.0371(i), Health and
16-5 Safety Code, develop a program to allow a centralized inspection
16-6 facility or a decentralized test-and-repair facility licensed by
16-7 the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission to renew vehicle
16-8 registrations and perform safety inspections, the Department may
16-9 appoint a centralized inspection or a decentralized test-and-repair
16-10 station licensed by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
16-11 Commission to perform vehicle emissions inspections under
16-12 Subsection (a-1) of this section as an official inspection station
16-13 to carry out the provisions of this section.
16-14 SECTION 7. Section 4.202(a-1), County Road and Bridge Act
16-15 (Article 6702-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read
16-16 as follows:
16-17 (a-1) A county tax assessor-collector who is required by
16-18 Section 2(j), Chapter 88, General Laws, Acts of the 41st
16-19 Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1929 (Article 6675a-2, Vernon's
16-20 Texas Civil Statutes), to collect a vehicle emissions inspection
16-21 certificate, other verification of compliance, or a mitigation fee
16-22 <a valid waiver> from an applicant for registration of a vehicle
16-23 shall collect and retain for the county a fee of 50 cents for each
16-24 emissions inspection certificate, <or> other verification, or
16-25 mitigation fee collected. The county tax assessor-collector may
16-26 not collect an additional fee for the administrative costs of
16-27 collecting and handling the mitigation fee.
17-1 SECTION 8. Effective May 2, 1995, the following are
17-2 repealed:
17-3 (1) Sections 382.037(o) and (p), Health and Safety
17-4 Code, as added by Senate Bill No. 19, Acts of the 74th Legislature,
17-5 Regular Session, 1995; and
17-6 (2) Section 2, Senate Bill No. 19, Acts of the 74th
17-7 Legislature, Regular Session, 1995.
17-8 SECTION 9. (a) On May 2, 1995, the Texas Natural Resource
17-9 Conservation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation,
17-10 and the Public Safety Commission may resume operation and
17-11 implementation of the vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance
17-12 program authorized under Section 382.037, Health and Safety Code,
17-13 but only as modified by Sections 382.0371 through 382.0374, Health
17-14 and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
17-15 (b) Immediately after the effective date of this Act, the
17-16 Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall adopt
17-17 emergency rules to implement the vehicle emissions inspection and
17-18 maintenance program as modified by this Act. The commission shall
17-19 adopt final rules as soon as practicable after the adoption of
17-20 emergency rules.
17-21 SECTION 10. The importance of this legislation and the
17-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
17-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
17-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
17-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
17-26 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
17-27 passage, and it is so enacted.