SRC-JFA S.B. 603 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 603 By: Armbrister State Affairs 4-23-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, under Texas law, an applicant for registration of a motor vehicle, a driver's license, or a motor vehicle inspection certificate does not have to provide evidence that the applicant has been in compliance with the motor vehicle safety responsibility law for the proceeding two years. This bill would require an applicant to provide such information upon registration of a motor vehicle, application for a driver's license, or inspection of a motor vehicle. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 603 sets forth the requirements that an applicant for registration of a motor vehicle, a driver's license, or a motor vehicle inspection certificate provide evidence that the applicant has been in compliance with the motor vehicle safety responsibility law for the preceding two years. 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 502.153, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (i), to require the owner or owner's representative to submit with the application for registration evidence in a form prescribed by the commissioner of insurance (commissioner), showing that, at any time required by law during the two years preceding the date of the application, the owner established and maintained financial responsibility for the vehicle the owner most regularly operated; or an affidavit stating that during the two years preceding the date of the application the owner did not regularly operate a vehicle for which the owner was required to establish financial responsibility. SECTION 2. Amends Section 521.143, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (e), to require the applicant to submit with the application for the driver's license evidence in a form prescribed by the commissioner, showing that, at any time required by law during the two years preceding the date of the application, the applicant established and maintained financial responsibility for the vehicle the applicant most regularly operated; or an affidavit stating that during the two years preceding the date of the application the applicant did not regularly operate a vehicle for which the applicant was required to establish financial responsibility. SECTION 3. Amends Section 548.105, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c), to require an owner or operator to furnish at the time of inspection evidence in a form prescribed by the commissioner, showing that, at any time required by law during the two years preceding the date of inspection, the owner or operator established and maintained financial responsibility for the vehicle the owner or operator most regularly operated; or an affidavit stating that during the two years preceding the date of inspection the owner or operator did not regularly operate a vehicle for which the owner or operator was required to establish financial responsibility. SECTION 4. (a) Effective date: September 1, 1997. (b) Requires the commissioner of insurance to prescribe the form required by Sections 502.153(i)(1), 521.143(e)(1), and 548.105(c)(1), Transportation Code, as added by this Act, no later than September 30, 1997. Requires the commissioner, if financial responsibility for the vehicle to which those sections apply was established by one or more motor vehicle liability insurance policies, to require the insurer that issued the policy, on request of a person required to make an application or submit to inspection, to provide that person with evidence of financial responsibility sufficient for the person to comply with those sections. (c) and (d) Makes application of this Act prospective to January 1, 1998. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.