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.