HBA-TBM H.B. 489 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 489
By: Pickett
County Affairs
7/3/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, a vehicle may have been considered junked if
it did not have either a lawfully attached unexpired license plate or a
valid motor vehicle inspection certificate or it was either wrecked or
inoperable.  House Bill 489 requires the vehicle to lack an unexpired
license plate or a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate and also to
be wrecked or inoperable to be considered a junked vehicle.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 489 amends the Transportation Code to alter the definition of
"junked vehicle" to provide that a vehicle is considered a junked vehicle
if it does not have an unexpired license plate or a valid motor vehicle
inspection certificate lawfully attached to it, and is wrecked, dismantled,
partially dismantled, or discarded, or is inoperable and has remained
inoperable for more than 72 consecutive hours on public property or 30
consecutive days on private property.  A junked vehicle that is declared to
be a public nuisance is subject to abatement procedures. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.