SRC-JXG H.B. 2004 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2004 By: Pickett (Shapleigh) State Affairs 5/9/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) does not have the authority to lease additional registration and titling system workstations to counties. These workstations are allocated by TxDOT based on the number of transactions a county handles in a month. Once a county exceeds a certain number of transactions, it is allocated another workstation. H.B. 2004 would authorize TxDOT to lease additional workstations to counties for an amount equal to the cost to TxDOT to make them available. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2004 sets forth provisions regarding leasing additional computer equipment to counties for the automated motor vehicle registration and title system. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 520A, Transportation Code, by adding Section 520.002, as follows: Sec. 520.002. LEASE OF ADDITIONAL COMPUTER EQUIPMENT. (a) Provides that this section applies only to the lease of equipment to a county for the operation of the automated registration and title system in additional to the equipment provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) at no cost to the county under a formula prescribed by TxDOT. (b) Authorizes TxDOT to enter into an agreement with the commissioners court of that county under which TxDOT leases additional equipment to the county for the use of the tax assessor-collector in operating the automated registration and title system in that county, on the request of the tax assessor-collector of a county. (c) Authorizes a county to install equipment leased under this Section at offices of the county or of an agent of the county. (d) Requires equipment leased under this section to remain the property of TxDOT, and to be used primarily for the automated registration and title system. (e) Requires TxDOT to charge the county an amount no less than the amount of the cost to TxDOT to provide the additional equipment and any related services under the lease, under the agreement. Requires all money collected under the lease to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.