SRC-AXB S.B. 401 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 401
By: Brown
State Affairs
6/10/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, a motor vehicle dealer is required to register a vehicle on
behalf of the purchaser.  A county is allowed to refuse to register a
vehicle if the vehicle owner owes the county past due fines, fees, or
taxes.  If a county refuses to register a vehicle to a purchaser who owes
money to that county, the motor vehicle dealer is potentially put in the
position of being a tax collector.  This bill clarifies that Section
502.185, Transportation Code, relating to the refusal to register a vehicle
in certain counties, does not apply to the registration of a vehicle under
Section 501.0234, Transportation Code, relating to the responsibilities of
a vehicle dealer on the sale of certain vehicles. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 401 clarifies Section 502.185, Transportation Code, to
confirm that this section does not apply to vehicle registration under
Section 501.0234, Transportation Code. 

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 Section 502.185, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (h), as follows: 

(h)  Provides that this section, relating to the refusal to register a
vehicle in certain counties, does not apply to the registration of a
vehicle under Section 501.0234 relating to the responsibilities of a
vehicle dealer on the sale of certain vehicles. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.