SRC-TNM H.B. 1306 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1306 By: Reyna, Elvira (Nelson) State Affairs 4-30-97 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, complaints regarding the amount of time it takes to register vehicles at county tax offices are often made by citizens. There is a concern that vehicle registration is not convenient enough for Texas citizens. H.B. 1306 would allow new car vehicle registrations to be made at the owner's option for one, two, or three years in order to reduce lines at tax office vehicle registration windows and to make vehicle registration convenient. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1306 outlines provisions regarding the payment of certain motor vehicle registration fees for a period longer than 12 months. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 502.158, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (g), to prohibit the Texas Department of Transportation (department) from designating a vehicle registration period of more than 12 months, but, with the consent of the department, an owner may pay registration fees for a designated period of more than 12 months and an owner of a passenger car or light truck that has not been previously registered in this or another state and is of the current or preceding model year to pay registration fees for a designated period of 12, 24, or 36 months. Requires the department to issue the applicant for registration who pays registration fees for a designated period of 24 or 36 months a registration receipt and registration insignia that are valid until the expiration of the designated period. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.