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.