SRC-AXB S.B. 845 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 845
By: Carona
State Affairs
6/4/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, a motor vehicle demolisher is only authorized to demolish an
abandoned vehicle if it is totally inoperable.  Because demolishing is only
authorized when a vehicle is totally inoperable, Section 683.051,
Transportation Code, excludes abandoned motor vehicles that do not meet
current emission standards, provided that they are to some degree operable.
The majority of the 10 percent of vehicles which cause 50 percent of the
vehicle pollution are 1979 and older models that do not have efficient
combustion technologies.  S.B. 845 authorizes the demolition of an
abandoned motor vehicle that fails to meet current emission standards. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 845 expands the circumstances under which an abandoned
vehicle can be disposed, and deletes the provision that lack of a motor or
total inoperability justifies disposal of an abandoned vehicle. 

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 683.051, Transportation Code, to authorize a
person to apply for authority to dispose of an abandoned motor vehicle that
fails to comply with air pollution emissions control related requirements
included in certain inspection requirements.  Deletes the provision that a
motor vehicle may be disposed of if has no motor or is inoperable. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 683.054(b), Transportation Code, to authorize
the disposal of a motor vehicle which meets the requirements of Sections
683.051(2)(A)(ii) and (iii).  Deletes a provision authorizing the disposal
of a vehicle more than eight years old, and makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.