SRC-JEC S.B. 299 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 299 77R3966 DWS-DBy: Barrientos Intergovernmental Relations 3/6/2001 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the owner of a commercial vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer used by a nonprofit disaster relief organization, such as the Red Cross, may be exempt from vehicle registration fees. To gain the benefit of the exemption, an applicant must provide a statement by the county sheriff that the vehicle has not been used for any purpose other than emergencies. Because a sheriff may not have personal knowledge concerning a vehicle, this provision can be an unnecessary administrative burden. S.B. 299 eliminates the requirement that the statement be made by the county sheriff and requires the statement to be made by an officer of the disaster relief organization. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 502.203(b), Transportation Code, to require an application for registration under this section to include a statement by the owner of the vehicle that the vehicle has not been used for any purpose other than emergencies. Requires the application to also include a statement signed by an officer of the nonprofit disaster relief organization that the vehicle has not been used for any purpose other than emergencies and qualifies for registration under this section. Deletes the requirement that the application include a statement by the county sheriff that the vehicle was never used for any purpose other than emergencies. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. Makes application of this Act prospective. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from the original by adding the requirement that the application include a statement signed by an officer of the disaster relief organization.