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