By Patterson S.B. No. 855 75R5228 JMM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the disposal of certain abandoned vehicles by a vehicle 1-3 storage facility. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 13, Vehicle Storage Facility Act (Article 1-6 6687-9a, Revised Statutes), is amended by adding Subsection (d) to 1-7 read as follows: 1-8 (d) If a vehicle for which notice was sent under Subsection 1-9 (a) of this section has not, before the 61st day after the date 1-10 notice was mailed, been claimed by a person permitted to claim the 1-11 vehicle or been taken into custody by a law enforcement agency 1-12 under Chapter 683, Transportation Code, the operator of the 1-13 vehicle storage facility shall send a second notice to the 1-14 registered owner and primary lienholder. The second notice must 1-15 contain the information required under Subsection (b) of this 1-16 section and a statement of the right of the facility to dispose of 1-17 the vehicle under Section 14B of this Act. 1-18 SECTION 2. The Vehicle Storage Facility Act (Article 1-19 6687-9a, Revised Statutes) is amended by adding Section 14B to read 1-20 as follows: 1-21 Sec. 14B. DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN ABANDONED VEHICLES. (a) The 1-22 operator of a vehicle storage facility may dispose of a vehicle for 1-23 which notice was sent under Section 13(d) of this Act as provided 1-24 by this section if, before the 30th day after the date the notice 2-1 was mailed, the vehicle has not been: 2-2 (1) claimed by a person entitled to claim the vehicle; 2-3 or 2-4 (2) taken into custody by a law enforcement agency 2-5 under Chapter 683, Transportation Code. 2-6 (b) An operator entitled to dispose of a vehicle under this 2-7 section may sell the vehicle at a public sale without being 2-8 required to obtain a release or discharge of any lien on the 2-9 vehicle. The proceeds from the sale of the vehicle shall be 2-10 applied to the charges incurred for the vehicle under Section 14 of 2-11 this Act. The operator shall pay excess proceeds, if any, to the 2-12 person entitled to them. 2-13 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 2-14 applies to a vehicle stored or parked at a vehicle storage facility 2-15 on or after that date. 2-16 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.