SRC-SEW S.B. 787 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 787 2001S0533/1 By: Brown, J. E. "Buster" State Affairs 2/27/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Chapters 501 (Certificate of Title Act) and 503 (Dealer's and Manufacturer's Vehicle License Plates), Transportation Code, provide certain regulations applicable to the sale of motor vehicles and to those who sell and operate motor vehicles. These provisions work together with other laws, such as the Tax code and the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code, to provide an integrated, cohesive regulatory structure applicable to commerce in, and taxation and titling and registration of, motor vehicles. As proposed, S.B. 787 provides conforming and technical changes to relevant provisions of the Transportation Code to ensure uniformity among all components of the regulatory structure and to conform that structure to current practices in the industry. These changes are necessitated by amendments to other law over time, and by changes in the regulated industry. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation in SECTION 3 (Section 503.002, Transportation Code) SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amend Section 501.0234(b), Transportation Code, to provide that this section does not apply to a vehicle with a gross weight in excess of 11,000 pounds. SECTION 2. Amends Section 501.074, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (d) to provide that, to the extent of a conflict between this section and another law, this section controls. SECTION 3. Amends Section 503.001, 503.002, and 503.003, Transportation Code as follows: Sec. 503.001. Defines "board" and "converter." Sec. 503.002. Authorizes the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation (board), rather than the Texas Transportation Commission (commission), to adopt rules for the administration of this chapter. Sec. 503.003. Provides that this chapter does not prohibit the display or sale of a nonmotorized vehicle or trailer at a regularly scheduled vehicle or boat show involving multiple dealers conducted in accordance with board rules. SECTION 4. Amends Section 503.006, Transportation Code, to require a dealer or manufacturer who has been issued dealer's, converter's or manufacturer's license plates to notify the department of a change to the dealer's, converter's, or manufacturer's address not later than the 10th day after the date the change occurs. SECTION 5. Amends Section 503.027(b), Transportation Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 6. Amends Section 503.033(g), Transportation Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 7. Amends Section 503.034(c), Transportation Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 8. Amends Section 503.066, Transportation Code, by deleting Subsection (d) and by amending and redesignating existing Subsection (e) as Subsection (d) as follows: Deletes text in existing Subsection (d) requiring license plates to be mailed to qualified applicants during February and March. (d) Makes a conforming change. SECTION 9. Amends Section 503.069(a), Transportation Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 10. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.