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.