SRC-SLL C.S.S.B. 1630 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1630 By: Duncan State Affairs 4-7-97 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for regulations relating to motor vehicle registration. There are technical corrections to the registration statutes that are necessary for clarity. Wire service agents are needed to provide customer service due to the volume of temporary permits issued. In addition, the transportation industry is moving toward a standard that can include nominal tonnage rating and gross vehicle weight rating, in addition to the manufacturer's rated carrying capacity, when determining the gross vehicle weight of a vehicle for fee purposes. This bill will provide new regulations regarding motor vehicle registration. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1630 provides new regulations regarding motor vehicle registration. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Department of Transportation in SECTION 2 (Section 502.0571(a), Transportation Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 502.001, Transportation Code, by amending Subdivision (20), and adding Subdivisions (25)-(31), to redefine "road tractor," and to define "private bus," "rental fleet," "rental trailer," "token trailer," "apportioned plate," "combination plate," and "forestry vehicle." SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 502B, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.0571, as follows: Sec. 502.0571. RULES; FORMS. Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to adopt rules to administer this chapter. Requires the department to prescribe forms that the department determines are necessary to administer this chapter and provide each county assessor-collector with a sufficient supply of forms. SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 502D, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.1611, as follows: Sec. 502.1611. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRUCK CAPACITY. Sets forth information the department may request to determine the gross weight of a vehicle for fee purposes. SECTION 4. Amends Section 502.166, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (d), to authorize the department to issue specially designed license plates for trailers and semitrailers. SECTION 5. Amends Section 502.167, Transportation Code, by adding Subsections (j) and (k), to authorize the department to issue specially designed license plates for token trailers. Sets forth regulations for registration of a trailer under this section. SECTION 6. Amends Section 502.252, Transportation Code, to authorize a person applying for license plates under Section 502.2555, 502.289, or 502.291, among others, to have a license plate number assigned by the department. SECTION 7. Amends Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.289, as follows: Sec. 502.289. CITY AND PRIVATE BUSES. Sets forth regulations for the issuance of license plates to city and private buses. SECTION 8. Amends Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.292, as follows: Sec. 502.292. STATE OFFICIAL, MEMBER OF U.S. CONGRESS, U.S. JUDGE, AND STATE JUDGE PLATES. Sets forth regulations for the issuance of specially designed license plates to a state official, member of the U.S. Congress, U.S. judge, or state judge. SECTION 9. Amends Section 502.352, Transportation Code, by amending Subsections (a), (c), (d), and (f), and adding Subsection (i), to authorize the department to issue a temporary permit for certain vehicles owned by a resident of the United Mexican States. Sets forth regulations for obtaining a permit under this section. Requires a wire service agent to send to the department a report of all permits issued the previous week. Requires the department to prescribe the form and the content requirement of the report required by this section. Authorizes the department to establish certain accounts for the prepayment of a 72-hour permit or a 144-hour permit. Requires the fees established by the department for the administration of this subsection to be administered in accordance with an agreement containing terms and conditions agreeable to the department. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 10. Amends Chapter 502G, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.3511, as follows: Sec. 502.3511. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRUCK CAPACITY. Authorizes the department to request certain information to determine the gross weight of a vehicle for fee purposes. SECTION 11. Amends Section 621.001, Transportation Code, by adding Subdivision (10), to define "travel trailer." SECTION 12. Amends Section 502.260(c), Transportation Code, to require the department to issue license plates under this section to a person who pays a certain annual fee and submits proof that the person has been awarded the Purple Heart and is a civilian national of the United States currently employed or who was employed by the United States armed forces. SECTION 13. Amends Section 502.266(a), Transportation Code, to provide that the surviving spouse of a person who would be eligible for license plates under Section 502.254 is entitled to continue to register one motor vehicle under that section as long as the spouse remains unmarried. SECTION 14. Amends Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.293, as follows: Sec. 502.293. COUNTY OFFICIAL PLATES. Sets forth regulations for the issuance of specially designed license plates for a vehicle owned by a county official. SECTION 15. Repealer: Section 502.280(e), Transportation Code (Forestry Vehicle). SECTION 16. (a) Provides that in addition to the substantive changes in law made by this Act, this Act amends Chapter 502, Transportation Code, to conform to changes in the law made by Section 1, Chapter 325; Section 1, Chapter 558; Section 1, Chapter 164; Section 1, Chapter 733; Section 2, Chapter 179; and Section 1, Chapter 875, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995. (b) Repealers: Section 1, Chapter 350; Section 1, Chapter 733; and Section 1, Chapter 875, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995. (c) Provides that, to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over another Act of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes. SECTION 17. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 4. Amends Section 502.166, Transportation Code, to delete proposed text regarding the fee collected under this section. SECTION 5. Amends Section 502.167, Transportation Code, to delete proposed text regarding the fee collected under this section. SECTION 8. Amends Section 502.292, Transportation Code, to add regulations regarding the issuance of specially designed license plates to a member of the U.S. Congress. SECTION 9. Amends Section 502.352(d), Transportation Code, to change the regulations regarding items to be sent to the department by a wire service agent. SECTION 12. Amends Section 502.260(c), Transportation Code, to provide additional regulations regarding license plates to be issued under this section. SECTION 13. Amends Section 502.266(a), Transportation Code, to make a nonsubstantive change. SECTION 14. Amends Section 502.293, Transportation Code, to provide regulations regarding specially designed license plates for a vehicle owned by a county official. SECTIONS 15-17. Redesignates former SECTIONS 12-14 as SECTIONS 15-17.