By Gutierrez                                          H.B. No. 2794
         76R6889 JD-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the automation of the compulsory motor vehicle
 1-3     inspection system.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 548, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 548.006 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 548.006.  AUTOMATION OF INSPECTION PROCEDURES.  (a)  The
 1-8     department shall develop and administer procedures to automate the
 1-9     compulsory motor vehicle inspection system under this chapter.
1-10           (b)  As a condition of certifying a location as an inspection
1-11     station under this chapter, the department may require the
1-12     applicant to participate in the automated inspection system.
1-13           (c)  The automated inspection system developed by the
1-14     department must include password security protection for each
1-15     inspector who accesses the system.  As a condition of certifying a
1-16     person as an inspector under this chapter, the department may
1-17     require the applicant to agree that:
1-18                 (1)  the person's automated password is equivalent, for
1-19     inspection purposes, to the person's written signature; and
1-20                 (2)  on certification and for all purposes, the person
1-21     is legally responsible for any inspection performed under the
1-22     person's automated password.
1-23           SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 548, Transportation Code,
1-24     is amended by adding Section 548.508 to read as follows:
 2-1           Sec. 548.508.  FEES FOR AUTOMATED INSPECTION SYSTEM.  (a)  On
 2-2     implementation of the automated inspection system under Section
 2-3     548.006:
 2-4                 (1)  in addition to each fee authorized by this
 2-5     subchapter, for each safety inspection certificate sold to an
 2-6     inspection station participating in the automated system, the
 2-7     department may impose an additional fee not to exceed $2; and
 2-8                 (2)  in addition to the fees authorized by Sections
 2-9     548.501, 548.503, and 548.504, for each inspection performed under
2-10     this chapter, an inspection station participating in the automated
2-11     system may impose an additional fee not to exceed $2.
2-12           (b)  The department may use fees collected under Subsection
2-13     (a)(1) only for the development and administration of the automated
2-14     inspection system under Section 548.006.
2-15           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-16           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.