SRC-SEW C.S.S.B. 817 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 817
77R9488 JAT-FBy: Armbrister
State Affairs
4/4/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, certain state agencies use undercover investigative work, often
under dangerous circumstances, to investigate and apprehend violators.
C.S.S.B. 817 provides that surveillance vehicles used by certain state
agencies, including the Texas Department of Banking, the Texas Lottery
Commission, the office of the attorney general, and the Texas Department of
Insurance, be exempted from the Transportation Code requirement that state
agency vehicles, unless exempted, bear the agency's name in letters not
less than two inches high. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of
Banking, the Texas Lottery Commission, the office of the attorney general,
and the Texas Department of Insurance in SECTION 1 (Section 721.003,
Transportation Code) of this bill). 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 721.003, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e), as follows: 

(a) Authorizes the governing bodies of certain state agencies or divisions
by rule to exempt from the requirements of Section 721.002 a motor vehicle
that is under the control and custody of the agency or division, including
the Texas Department of Banking, the Texas Lottery Commission, the office
of the attorney general, and the Texas Department of Insurance. 

(e) Authorizes a rule adopted by the Texas Lottery Commission under
Subsection (a) to exempt from the requirements of Section 721.002 only a
motor vehicle used exclusively for surveillance purposes. 

SECTION 2.  Repealer: Section 721.003(b) (regarding an Exemption From
Inscription Requirement for Certain State-Owned Motor Vehicles),
Transportation Code.   

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Amends original As Filed S.B. 817, to authorize the governing
bodies of the office of the attorney general and the Texas Department of
Insurance by rule to exempt from the requirements of Section 721.002 a
motor vehicle that is under the control and custody of the office or
department.  

SECTION 2.  Repeals Section 721.003(b), Transportation Code.

SECTION 3.  Redesignates original proposed SECTION 2 as SECTION 3.