1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to authorizing the Texas Department of Transportation to
 1-3     lease additional equipment to counties for the automated motor
 1-4     vehicle registration and title system.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 520, Transportation Code,
 1-7     is amended by adding Section 520.002 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 520.002.  LEASE OF ADDITIONAL COMPUTER EQUIPMENT.  (a)
 1-9     This section applies only to the lease of equipment to a county for
1-10     the operation of the automated registration and title system in
1-11     addition to the equipment provided by the department at no cost to
1-12     the county under a formula prescribed by the department.
1-13           (b)  On the request of the tax assessor-collector of a
1-14     county, the department may enter into an agreement with the
1-15     commissioners court of that county under which the department
1-16     leases additional equipment to the county for the use of the tax
1-17     assessor-collector in operating the automated registration and
1-18     title system in that county.
1-19           (c)  A county may install equipment leased under this section
1-20     at offices of the county or of an agent of the county.
1-21           (d)  Equipment leased under this section:
1-22                 (1)  remains the property of the department; and
1-23                 (2)  must be used primarily for the automated
1-24     registration and title system.
 2-1           (e)  Under the agreement, the department shall charge the
 2-2     county an amount not less than the amount of the cost to the
 2-3     department to provide the additional equipment and any related
 2-4     services under the lease.  All money collected under the lease
 2-5     shall be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.
 2-6           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-11     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-12     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2004 was passed by the House on May
         3, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2004 was passed by the Senate on May
         20, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor