TWT H.B. 3063 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


TRANSPORTATION
H.B. 3063
By: Clark
4-25-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Elderly citizens who reside on real property owned by the United States
Corps of Engineers occasionally use golf carts to travel to and from area
marinas, elderly centers, and one another's homes.  Because they are not
driving their golf carts to and from a golf course, they are required to
register their carts as if they were automobiles, costing them over $63.00
per year.   

PURPOSE

This bill will provide that, if someone living on United States Corps of
Engineers property is required by that agency to register their golf
carts, the fee shall be $10.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 502.284, Transportation Code, as follows.

 Adds Subsection (b) to provide that, if the owner of a golf cart resides
on real property owned or controlled by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and is
required to register the golf cart, the fee shall be $10. This subsection
applies only to an owner of a golf cart who resides in a county that
borders another state and has a population of more than 95,000 but less
than 100,000.  

 Adds Subsection (c) to clarify that Subsection (b) does not authorize a
golf cart to be driven on a public road where it is otherwise prohibited
by law. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause. Effective upon passage.




COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1. The original in Sec. 502.284 (b) stated that for registration
purposes, a golf cart should be considered like a motorcycle. The
substitute deletes this provision. The registration fee in the original
was $15 (the same as for motorcycles), but the substitute set the fee at
$10. Subsection (c) of the substitute is new and was not in the original.