1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation of the distribution and sale of towable
1-3 recreational vehicles.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 1.03, Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code
1-6 (Article 4413(36), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by
1-7 amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (28) to read as
1-8 follows:
1-9 (1) "Motor vehicle" means:
1-10 (A) every fully self-propelled vehicle which has
1-11 as its primary purpose the transport of a person or persons, or
1-12 property, on a public highway, and having two or more wheels;
1-13 (B) every two or more wheeled fully
1-14 self-propelled, titled vehicle which has as its primary purpose the
1-15 transport of a person or persons or property and is not
1-16 manufactured for use on public streets, roads, or highways; [or]
1-17 (C) an engine, transmission, or rear axle
1-18 manufactured for installation in a vehicle having as its primary
1-19 purpose the transport of a person or persons or property on a
1-20 public highway and having a gross vehicle weight rating of more
1-21 than 16,000 pounds, whether or not attached to a vehicle chassis;
1-22 or
1-23 (D) a towable recreational vehicle.
1-24 (28) "Towable recreational vehicle" means a
2-1 nonmotorized vehicle that is designed and originally manufactured
2-2 for temporary human habitation as its primary purpose for
2-3 recreational, camping, or seasonal use and:
2-4 (A) is titled and registered with the Texas
2-5 Department of Transportation as a travel trailer through the county
2-6 tax assessor-collector;
2-7 (B) is permanently built on a single chassis;
2-8 (C) contains one or more life support systems;
2-9 and
2-10 (D) is designed to be towable by another motor
2-11 vehicle.
2-12 SECTION 2. Section 4.02(c)(2), Texas Motor Vehicle
2-13 Commission Code (Article 4413(36), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes),
2-14 is amended to read as follows:
2-15 (2) Except as provided in this subdivision, no
2-16 licensee may participate in a new motor vehicle show or exhibition
2-17 unless the Commission has first had written notice at least 30 days
2-18 prior to the opening day of the show or exhibition and its written
2-19 approval has been granted. A licensee may not sell or offer for
2-20 sale a new motor vehicle at a show or exhibition; however,
2-21 dealership personnel may be present to aid in the showing or
2-22 exhibiting of new motor vehicles. This subdivision does not
2-23 prohibit the sale of a towable recreational vehicle, motor home,
2-24 ambulance, or fire-fighting vehicle at a show or exhibition if the
2-25 show or exhibition is approved by the Commission and if the sale
2-26 does not otherwise violate a provision of law; provided that,
2-27 should the Commission adopt a rule regulating off-site display or
3-1 sale of towable recreational vehicles, the Commission shall
3-2 authorize the display and sale of towable recreational vehicles at
3-3 private events in trade areas (counties, cities, or towns) where
3-4 application of general participation requirements for organized
3-5 dealer shows and exhibitions would effectively preclude such an
3-6 organized show or exhibition.
3-7 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-8 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2382 was passed by the House on April
30, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2382 on May 21, 1997, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2382 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 18, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor