SRC-AAA H.B. 1532 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 1532 By: Woolley (Whitmire) State Affairs 4-28-97 Engrossed DIGEST Large counties are plagued by outstanding fines, fees, and taxes. County tax assessor-collectors are required by law to register the motor vehicles of residents and have no ability to refuse to register the vehicles of persons who owe the county money. Refusal to register a motor vehicle can be an effective collection tool. Municipalities have the ability to provide for the refusal to register a motor vehicle or the denial of a driver's license of a person who has not paid tickets to the municipality. H.B. 1532 provides counties with a tool to collect past due fines, fees, and taxes by allowing a county assessor-collector or the Texas Department of Transportation to refuse to register a motor vehicle upon receiving information that the owner owes the county a past due fine, fee, or tax. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1532 provides counties with a tool to collect past due fines, fees, and taxes by allowing a county assessor-collector or the Texas Department of Transportation to refuse to register a motor vehicle upon receiving information that the owner owes the county a past due fine, fee, or tax. 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 Chapter 502D, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.185, as follows: Sec. 502.185. REFUSAL TO REGISTER VEHICLE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. Authorizes the county tax assessor-collector or the Department of Transportation (department) to refuse to register a motor vehicle if the assessor-collector or the department receives certain information. Authorizes the county to contract with the department to provide certain information. Sets forth notice requirements for a county in notifying the department regarding a person for whom the county tax assessor-collector or the department has refused to register. Provides that after notice is sent the county tax assessor-collector or the department may not refuse to register a motor vehicle under Subsection (a). Sets forth requirements of the contract. Sets forth requirements for assessing a fee. Provides that in this section a fee is past due under certain conditions, and registration of a motor vehicle includes renewal. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.