By: Duncan S.B. No. 1630
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to motor vehicle registration.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Section 502.001, Transportation Code, is amended
1-4 by amending Subdivision (20) and adding Subdivisions (25), (26),
1-5 (27), (28), (29), (30), and (31) to read as follows:
1-6 (20) "Road tractor" means a motor vehicle designed or
1-7 used for drawing another vehicle or a load, or a vehicle designed
1-8 for mowing rights-of-way on public highways, and not constructed to
1-9 carry:
1-10 (A) an independent load; or
1-11 (B) a part of the weight of the vehicle and load
1-12 to be drawn.
1-13 (25) "Private bus" means a bus that is not:
1-14 (A) operated for compensation or hire; and
1-15 (B) classified and registered as a "city bus" or
1-16 a "motor bus."
1-17 (26) "Rental fleet" means five or more vehicles that
1-18 are:
1-19 (A) rented or offered for rental without
1-20 drivers; and
1-21 (B) designated by a rental owner as a rental
1-22 fleet.
1-23 (27) "Rental trailer" means a utility trailer not
2-1 exceeding 4,000 pounds gross weight that is part of a rental fleet.
2-2 (28) "Token trailer" means a semitrailer:
2-3 (A) with a gross weight in excess of 6,000
2-4 pounds; and
2-5 (B) operated in combination with a truck or a
2-6 truck tractor that is licensed with either a combination plate, an
2-7 apportioned plate, or a forestry vehicle plate.
2-8 (29) "Apportioned plate" means a plate issued in lieu
2-9 of combination or truck license plates to Texas carriers who
2-10 proportionally register their fleets in other states.
2-11 (30) "Combination plate" means a plate issued to a
2-12 truck or truck tractor with a manufacturer's rated carrying
2-13 capacity in excess of one ton used or to be used in combination
2-14 with a semitrailer having a gross weight in excess of 6,000 pounds.
2-15 (31) "Forestry vehicle" means a vehicle used
2-16 exclusively for transporting forest products in their natural
2-17 state, including logs, debarked logs, untreated ties, stave bolts,
2-18 plywood bolts, pulpwood billets, wood chips, stumps, sawdust, moss,
2-19 bark, wood shavings, and property used in the production of those
2-20 products.
2-21 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
2-22 is amended by adding Section 502.0571 to read as follows:
2-23 Sec. 502.0571. RULES; FORMS. (a) The department may adopt
2-24 rules to administer this chapter.
2-25 (b) The department shall:
3-1 (1) prescribe forms that the department determines are
3-2 necessary to administer this chapter; and
3-3 (2) provide each county assessor-collector with a
3-4 sufficient supply of forms.
3-5 SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
3-6 is amended by adding Section 502.1611 to read as follows:
3-7 Sec. 502.1611. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRUCK CAPACITY.
3-8 To determine the gross weight of a vehicle for fee purposes, the
3-9 department may request:
3-10 (1) the manufacturer's rated carrying capacity;
3-11 (2) the nominal tonnage rating;
3-12 (3) the gross vehicle weight rating; or
3-13 (4) any combination.
3-14 SECTION 4. Section 502.166, Transportation Code, is amended
3-15 by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
3-16 (d) The department may issue specially designed license
3-17 plates for trailers and semitrailers.
3-18 SECTION 5. Section 502.167, Transportation Code, is amended
3-19 by adding Subsections (j) and (k) to read as follows:
3-20 (j) The department may issue specially designed license
3-21 plates for token trailers.
3-22 (k) A person or entity may register a trailer under this
3-23 section for a period of five years if the person or entity owns 50
3-24 or more semitrailers. The person or entity may apply to the
3-25 department for a five-year registration insignia and pay the $75
4-1 fee prescribed by this section and, if applicable, the fee
4-2 prescribed by Section 502.172. The department may require an
4-3 applicant to submit proof of eligibility for registration under
4-4 this subsection.
4-5 SECTION 6. Section 502.252, Transportation Code, is amended
4-6 to read as follows:
4-7 Sec. 502.252. CERTAIN SPECIALIZED PLATES AVAILABLE
4-8 PERSONALIZED. A person applying for license plates under Section
4-9 502.2555, 502.258, 502.259, 502.260, 502.261, 502.262, 502.263,
4-10 502.264, 502.265, 502.269, 502.270, 502.271, 502.272, 502.273, [or]
4-11 502.274, 502.289, or 502.291 may:
4-12 (1) have a license plate number assigned by the
4-13 department; or
4-14 (2) apply for personalized prestige license plates
4-15 under Section 502.251.
4-16 SECTION 7. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
4-17 is amended by adding Section 502.289 to read as follows:
4-18 Sec. 502.289. CITY AND PRIVATE BUSES. (a) The department
4-19 shall issue specially designed license plates for city and private
4-20 buses.
4-21 (b) License plates issued under this section must include
4-22 the words "city bus" for a city bus or "private bus" for a private
4-23 bus.
4-24 (c) The department shall issue license plates under this
4-25 section to a person who or city that:
5-1 (1) applies on a form prescribed by the department to
5-2 the county assessor-collector of the county in which the person
5-3 resides or which the city is located; and
5-4 (2) pays the fee in accordance with Section 502.161.
5-5 (d) Registration under this section is valid for one
5-6 registration year.
5-7 SECTION 8. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
5-8 is amended by adding Section 502.292 to read as follows:
5-9 Sec. 502.292. STATE OFFICIAL, MEMBER OF UNITED STATES
5-10 CONGRESS, UNITED STATES JUDGE, AND STATE JUDGE PLATES. (a) The
5-11 department shall issue specially designed license plates for a
5-12 vehicle owned by a:
5-13 (1) state official;
5-14 (2) member of the United States Congress;
5-15 (3) United States judge; or
5-16 (4) state judge.
5-17 (b) License plates issued under this section must include
5-18 the words "State Official," "U.S. Congress," "U.S. Judge," or
5-19 "State Judge."
5-20 (c) A state official is entitled to register for a "State
5-21 Official" plate, for the person's own use, a passenger car or light
5-22 truck if the person is:
5-23 (1) a member of the legislature;
5-24 (2) the governor;
5-25 (3) the lieutenant governor;
6-1 (4) a justice of the supreme court;
6-2 (5) a judge of the court of criminal appeals;
6-3 (6) the attorney general;
6-4 (7) the Commissioner of the General Land Office;
6-5 (8) the comptroller;
6-6 (9) a railroad commissioner;
6-7 (10) the commissioner of agriculture;
6-8 (11) the secretary of state; or
6-9 (12) a member of the State Board of Education.
6-10 (d) A member of the United States Congress is entitled to
6-11 register for a "U.S. Congress" plate, for the person's own use, a
6-12 passenger car or light truck.
6-13 (e) A United States judge or retired United States judge is
6-14 entitled to register for a "U.S. Judge" plate, for the person's own
6-15 use, a passenger car or light truck if the person is a:
6-16 (1) judge of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals;
6-17 (2) federal district judge or magistrate; or
6-18 (3) federal bankruptcy judge residing in Texas.
6-19 (f) A state judge or retired state judge is entitled to
6-20 register for a "State Judge" plate, for the person's own use, a
6-21 passenger car or light truck if the person is a:
6-22 (1) judge of a court of appeals;
6-23 (2) district court judge;
6-24 (3) presiding judge of an administrative judicial
6-25 district; or
7-1 (4) statutory county court judge.
7-2 (g) The department shall issue license plates under this
7-3 section to a person who:
7-4 (1) applies to the department on a form prescribed by
7-5 the department;
7-6 (2) pays the fee prescribed in Section 502.161 or
7-7 502.162; and
7-8 (3) submits proof acceptable to the department that
7-9 the person is eligible under this section.
7-10 (h) A person may be issued three sets of license plates
7-11 under this section.
7-12 (i) Registration under this section is for a 12-month
7-13 period, or remainder of that period, and expires annually in March.
7-14 (j) If the owner of a vehicle registered under this section
7-15 disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, the owner
7-16 shall return the special license plates to the department.
7-17 SECTION 9. Section 502.352, Transportation Code, is amended
7-18 by amending Subsections (a), (c), (d), and (f) and adding
7-19 Subsection (i) to read as follows:
7-20 (a) The department may issue a temporary permit for a
7-21 commercial motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or motor bus that:
7-22 (1) is owned by a resident of the United States, the
7-23 United Mexican States, or Canada;
7-24 (2) is subject to registration in this state; and
7-25 (3) is not authorized to travel on a public highway
8-1 because of the lack of registration in this state or the lack of
8-2 reciprocity with the state or province in which the vehicle is
8-3 registered.
8-4 (c) A person may obtain a permit under this section by:
8-5 (1) applying to the county assessor-collector, [or]
8-6 the department, or the department's wire service agent; [and]
8-7 (2) paying a fee of $25 for a 72-hour permit or $50
8-8 for a 144-hour permit:
8-9 (A)[,] in cash;
8-10 (B) [or] by a postal money order;
8-11 (C) by a [or] certified check;
8-12 (D) by a wire transfer through the department's
8-13 wire service agent;
8-14 (E) by an escrow account; or
8-15 (F) where the service is provided, by a credit
8-16 card issued by:
8-17 (i) a financial institution chartered by a
8-18 state or the federal government; or
8-19 (ii) a nationally recognized credit
8-20 organization approved by the Texas Transportation Commission;
8-21 (3) paying a discount or service charge for a credit
8-22 card payment or escrow account in addition to the fee; and
8-23 (4) furnishing to the county assessor-collector, the
8-24 department, or the department's wire service agent evidence of
8-25 financial responsibility for the vehicle in compliance with
9-1 Sections 502.153(c) and 601.168(a) and be written by an insurance
9-2 company or surety company authorized to write motor vehicle
9-3 liability insurance in this state[, of:]
9-4 [(A) $25 for a 72 hour permit; or]
9-5 [(B) $50 for a 144 hour permit].
9-6 (d) A county assessor-collector shall report and send a fee
9-7 collected under this section in the manner provided by Sections
9-8 502.102 and 502.105. A wire service agent shall send to the
9-9 department a report of all permits issued the previous week. The
9-10 department shall prescribe the form and the content requirements of
9-11 the report.
9-12 (f) A vehicle issued a permit under this section is subject
9-13 to Subchapters B and F, Chapter 548, unless the vehicle:
9-14 (1) is registered in another state of the United
9-15 States, in a state of the United Mexican States, or in a province
9-16 of Canada; or
9-17 (2) is mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in
9-18 the production of gas, crude petroleum, or oil, including a mobile
9-19 crane or hoisting equipment, mobile lift equipment, forklift, or
9-20 tug.
9-21 (i) The department may establish one or more escrow accounts
9-22 in the state highway fund for the prepayment of a 72-hour permit or
9-23 a 144-hour permit. The fees established by the department for the
9-24 administration of this subsection shall be administered in
9-25 accordance with an agreement containing terms and conditions
10-1 agreeable to the department.
10-2 SECTION 10. Subchapter G, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
10-3 is amended by adding Section 502.3511 to read as follows:
10-4 Sec. 502.3511. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRUCK CAPACITY.
10-5 To determine the gross weight of a vehicle for fee purposes, the
10-6 department may request:
10-7 (1) the manufacturer's rated carrying capacity;
10-8 (2) the nominal tonnage rating;
10-9 (3) the gross vehicle weight rating; or
10-10 (4) any combination.
10-11 SECTION 11. Section 621.001, Transportation Code, is amended
10-12 by adding Subdivision (10) to read as follows:
10-13 (10) "Travel trailer" means a house trailer-type
10-14 vehicle or a camper trailer that is:
10-15 (A) less than eight feet in width and 40 feet in
10-16 length, not including the hitch; and
10-17 (B) designed primarily not for use as a
10-18 permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for
10-19 recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.
10-20 SECTION 12. Subsection (c), Section 502.260, Transportation
10-21 Code, is amended to read as follows:
10-22 (c) The department shall issue license plates under this
10-23 section to a person who:
10-24 (1) applies to the department on a form prescribed by
10-25 the department;
11-1 (2) pays an annual fee of:
11-2 (A) $3 for the first set of license plates
11-3 issued under this section; and
11-4 (B) $15 for each additional set of license
11-5 plates issued under this section; and
11-6 (3) submits proof that the person has been awarded the
11-7 Purple Heart and is:
11-8 (A) an honorably discharged veteran of the
11-9 United States armed forces; [or]
11-10 (B) a member of the United States armed forces
11-11 on active duty; or
11-12 (C) a civilian national of the United States
11-13 currently employed or who was employed by the United States armed
11-14 forces.
11-15 SECTION 13. Subsection (a), Section 502.266, Transportation
11-16 Code, is amended to read as follows:
11-17 (a) The surviving spouse of a person who would be eligible
11-18 for [was issued] license plates under Section 502.254 is entitled
11-19 to continue to register one motor vehicle under that section as
11-20 long as the spouse remains unmarried.
11-21 SECTION 14. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
11-22 is amended by adding Section 502.293 to read as follows:
11-23 Sec. 502.293. COUNTY OFFICIAL PLATES. (a) The department
11-24 shall issue specially designed license plates for a vehicle owned
11-25 by a county official.
12-1 (b) License plates issued under this section must include
12-2 the words "County Official."
12-3 (c) A county official is entitled to register for a "County
12-4 Official" plate, for the person's own use, a passenger car or light
12-5 truck if the person is:
12-6 (1) a county commissioner; or
12-7 (2) a county judge who presides over the commissioners
12-8 court of a county.
12-9 (d) The department shall issue license plates under this
12-10 section to a person who:
12-11 (1) applies to the department on a form prescribed by
12-12 the department;
12-13 (2) pays the fee prescribed in Section 502.161 or
12-14 502.162; and
12-15 (3) submits proof acceptable to the department that
12-16 the person is eligible under this section.
12-17 (e) A person may be issued two sets of license plates under
12-18 this section.
12-19 (f) Registration under this section is for a 12-month
12-20 period, or remainder of that period, and expires annually in March.
12-21 (g) If the owner of a vehicle registered under this section
12-22 disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, the owner
12-23 shall return the special license plates to the department.
12-24 SECTION 15. Subsection (e), Section 502.280, Transportation
12-25 Code, is repealed.
13-1 SECTION 16. (a) In addition to the substantive changes in
13-2 law made by this Act, this Act amends Chapter 502, Transportation
13-3 Code, to conform to the changes in the law made by Section 1,
13-4 Chapter 164, Section 2, Chapter 179, Section 1, Chapter 325,
13-5 Section 1, Chapter 558, Section 1, Chapter 733, Section 1, Chapter
13-6 875, Acts of the 74th Legislature, 1995.
13-7 (b) Section 1, Chapter 350, Section 1, Chapter 733, and
13-8 Section 1, Chapter 875, Acts of the 74th Legislature, 1995, are
13-9 repealed.
13-10 (c) To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over
13-11 another Act of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997,
13-12 relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
13-13 codes.
13-14 SECTION 17. The importance of this legislation and the
13-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
13-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
13-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
13-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
13-19 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
13-20 passage, and it is so enacted.